A letter from a gentleman in the city to a clergy-man in the country
         Gentleman in the city.
      
       
         
           1688
        
      
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         97643
         
           
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             A letter from a gentleman in the city to a clergy-man in the country
             Gentleman in the city.
          
           [2], 38 p.
           
             Printed for D.C. ...,
             London :
             1688.
          
           
             Reproduction of original in Huntington Library.
          
        
      
    
     
       
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         eng
      
       
         
           Great Britain -- Politics and government -- 1660-1688.
        
      
    
     
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           A
           LETTER
           FROM
           A
           
             Gentleman
             in
             the
             City
          
           ,
           TO
           A
           CLERGY-MAN
           IN
           THE
           COUNTRY
        
         
           LONDON
           ,
           Printed
           for
           
             D.
             C.
          
           and
           are
           to
           be
           sold
           by
           Booksellers
           of
           London
           and
           Westminster
           .
           MDCLXXXVIII
           .
        
      
    
     
       
         
         
         
           A
           LETTER
           ,
           &c.
           
        
         
           
             SIR
             ,
          
        
         
           IT
           has
           pleas'd
           that
           Almighty
           Power
           which
           Rules
           the
           Hearts
           of
           Princes
           ,
           to
           enlighten
           and
           adorn
           His
           Present
           Gracious
           Majesty
           ,
           with
           such
           peculiar
           Beams
           of
           Mercy
           and
           Clemency
           ,
           those
           truly
           Royal
           Virtues
           ,
           that
           render
           Him
           the
           nearest
           Pourtraict
           of
           that
           Deity
           whose
           Vicegerent
           He
           is
           .
           To
           win
           therefore
           the
           Universal
           Love
           of
           his
           People
           ,
           a
           Conquest
           worthy
           of
           ,
           and
           indeed
           reserved
           for
           His
           Great
           Self
           ,
           He
           has
           set
           up
           the
           Standard
           of
           Compassion
           ,
           resolving
           to
           recover
           the
           alienated
           Affections
           of
           those
           of
           His
           Subjects
           ,
           whom
           the
           Administration
           of
           His
           Predecessors
           may
           have
           any
           ways
           rendred
           uneasie
           .
        
         
           There
           are
           but
           Two
           things
           in
           the
           World
           dear
           to
           all
           Mankind
           ,
           Religion
           and
           Property
           .
           The
           last
           of
           these
           ,
           I
           confess
           ,
           in
           the
           most
           moderate
           Distribution
           of
           Common
           Right
           ,
           has
           all
           along
           had
           its
           free
           course
           in
           the
           true
           Channels
           of
           Equity
           ,
           only
           the
           first
           has
           been
           a
           little
           restrain'd
           ;
           for
           Conscience
           has
           sometimes
           been
           shackled
           .
        
         
           The
           Sighs
           therefore
           and
           Groans
           that
           have
           lately
           breathed
           from
           that
           Restraint
           ,
           have
           moved
           him
           to
           that
           Sacred
           Commiseration
           ,
           that
           He
           is
           resolved
           to
           break
           the
           Fetters
           that
           extort
           them
           ,
           The
           
             Penal
             Laws
          
           .
           Which
           to
           effect
           ,
           He
           has
           already
           
           declared
           His
           Determination
           for
           that
           choice
           of
           Magistrates
           in
           Authority
           under
           Him
           ,
           that
           in
           His
           Princely
           Judgment
           He
           thinks
           will
           be
           most
           Hearty
           in
           contributing
           their
           best
           and
           ablest
           Endeavours
           for
           that
           Great
           End.
           
        
         
           To
           carry
           on
           this
           Pious
           Work
           ,
           't
           is
           not
           at
           all
           to
           be
           doubted
           but
           the
           Suffering
           Party
           on
           all
           sides
           ,
           who
           are
           aggrieved
           by
           those
           Laws
           ,
           by
           the
           meer
           dictates
           of
           Self-preservation
           ,
           will
           be
           no
           ways
           wanting
           to
           throw
           off
           a
           Yoke
           they
           have
           so
           long
           so
           unquietly
           born
           .
           And
           if
           all
           their
           Helps
           ,
           His
           Majesty
           (
           as
           in
           Reason
           may
           be
           expected
           )
           is
           so
           well
           secure
           of
           ,
           there
           remain
           only
           the
           Concurrence
           of
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           ;
           which
           ,
           if
           obtain'd
           ,
           His
           Kingdom
           would
           reap
           the
           Fruit
           ,
           and
           Himself
           the
           Honour
           of
           being
           the
           Founder
           of
           those
           lasting
           Blessings
           ,
           so
           much
           in
           themselves
           the
           more
           Glorious
           ,
           as
           that
           all
           Hands
           ,
           and
           all
           Hearts
           ,
           are
           assistant
           to
           their
           Creation
           .
        
         
           But
           since
           the
           late
           Refusal
           of
           Reading
           His
           Majesties
           most
           Gracious
           Declaration
           seems
           to
           intimate
           the
           Church
           of
           Englands
           Aversion
           (
           or
           at
           least
           their
           
             Leading
             Endeavours
          
           to
           create
           that
           Aversion
           )
           to
           the
           Repeal
           of
           the
           Penal
           Laws
           and
           Tests
           ;
           the
           Design
           of
           this
           Address
           to
           your self
           ,
           a
           Party
           so
           much
           concern'd
           ,
           and
           indeed
           to
           the
           whole
           Clergy
           ,
           is
           ●o
           examine
           the
           stress
           and
           tendency
           of
           those
           Laws
           ,
           and
           truly
           to
           Reason
           and
           Argue
           with
           our
           Pious
           Mother
           the
           
             Church
             of
             England
          
           ,
           why
           the
           Preservation
           of
           those
           Laws
           ,
           either
           is
           ,
           or
           ought
           to
           be
           ,
           any
           part
           of
           her
           Care
           ;
           and
           indeed
           ,
           how
           far
           those
           Statutes
           ,
           her
           sometimes
           Darlings
           ,
           are
           in
           themselves
           either
           Just
           ,
           Equitable
           ,
           or
           consistent
           with
           Christianity
           it self
           ;
           and
           how
           far
           she
           is
           equally
           ,
           if
           not
           more
           ,
           than
           the
           Dissenters
           obliged
           ▪
           to
           abolish
           them
           .
           Nor
           shall
           I
           endeavour
           to
           urge
           her
           Consent
           from
           any
           Resignation
           or
           Compliance
           (
           those
           fainter
           motives
           of
           meer
           Generosity
           )
           to
           the
           Pleasure
           and
           Will
           of
           the
           King
           ,
           that
           desires
           to
           have
           it
           so
           ;
           but
           enforce
           the
           Argument
           from
           the
           Bonds
           and
           Tyes
           of
           Conscience
           and
           
           Justice
           that
           require
           her
           Assistance
           to
           their
           Dissolution
           ;
           and
           hereby
           illustrate
           the
           Equity
           and
           Reasonableness
           of
           His
           Majesties
           Proposal
           ,
           and
           prove
           the
           Work
           it self
           no
           more
           than
           the
           incumbent
           Duty
           of
           every
           Christian
           Subject
           to
           labour
           to
           perfect
           .
           For
           inquiry
           therefore
           first
           into
           the
           
             Penal
             Laws
          
           ,
           I
           shall
           make
           bold
           to
           trace
           the
           Grounds
           of
           their
           Rise
           and
           Original
           .
        
         
           After
           the
           Death
           of
           Queen
           Mary
           ,
           her
           Protestant
           Sister
           Elizabeth
           ,
           being
           seated
           on
           the
           Throne
           ,
           under
           so
           fair
           a
           Prospect
           of
           establishing
           her
           Religion
           ,
           as
           having
           the
           Half
           ,
           if
           not
           the
           Majority
           of
           the
           Nation
           of
           Her
           Perswasion
           ,
           all
           Hands
           were
           set
           at
           Work
           for
           so
           glorious
           an
           Enterprize
           .
           But
           the
           main
           Engine
           was
           ,
           That
           the
           Reformers
           having
           before
           their
           Eyes
           the
           late
           severity
           of
           her
           Sisters
           Reign
           ,
           the
           Protestant
           Church
           either
           truly
           ,
           or
           rather
           seemingly
           ashamed
           (
           as
           time
           will
           shew
           )
           of
           the
           Romish
           Cruelty
           ,
           the
           Popular
           out-crys
           against
           Smithfield
           Fires
           ,
           was
           conscious
           that
           she
           had
           no
           means
           so
           proper
           to
           recommend
           her self
           to
           the
           Peoples
           Esteem
           as
           the
           avoiding
           all
           those
           occasions
           of
           Odium
           ,
           which
           had
           render'd
           the
           
             Romish
             Church
          
           so
           much
           the
           Object
           of
           their
           Aversion
           ;
           and
           therefore
           the
           Change
           must
           be
           wrought
           and
           Affections
           won
           ,
           by
           the
           opposite
           Extremes
           of
           Mercy
           and
           Moderation
           .
        
         
           These
           Measures
           for
           a
           while
           seem'd
           terrible
           ;
           but
           ,
           alas
           !
           in
           few
           years
           Indulgence
           appeared
           a
           too
           slow-pac'd
           Progress
           of
           Reformation
           ;
           for
           still
           notwithstanding
           the
           Encouragement
           of
           a
           Protestant
           Queen
           ,
           and
           the
           Establishment
           of
           our
           Church
           ,
           the
           Ecclesiastick
           Advances
           went
           on
           too
           leisurely
           ,
           and
           Conversions
           not
           fast
           enough
           ,
           to
           satisfie
           either
           the
           Churches
           Itch
           of
           Power
           ,
           or
           Warmth
           of
           Zeal
           ,
           under
           the
           looser
           Reins
           of
           Toleration
           .
           For
           whilst
           the
           Popish
           party
           were
           connived
           at
           ,
           and
           permitted
           any
           Liberty
           of
           their
           Worship
           ,
           their
           Church
           ,
           though
           falling
           ,
           could
           not
           want
           some
           few
           unshaken
           Members
           at
           least
           that
           would
           still
           follow
           even
           
           its
           very
           Ruines
           ;
           and
           perhaps
           the
           Romish
           Priests
           ,
           though
           thrown
           out
           of
           Church
           Preferment
           ,
           could
           not
           ,
           or
           would
           not
           forbear
           ,
           to
           confirm
           and
           encourage
           their
           thin
           and
           scatter'd
           Party
           ,
           and
           possibly
           through
           an
           indispensable
           (
           as
           they
           thought
           )
           Duty
           to
           that
           Communion
           ,
           in
           which
           invincibly
           perswaded
           ,
           they
           only
           expected
           Salvation
           ,
           they
           might
           not
           omit
           either
           Arguments
           or
           Industry
           (
           as
           Opinion
           wants
           neither
           )
           to
           render
           their
           Religion
           nevertheless
           lovely
           for
           the
           Cloud
           it
           wore
           ;
           which
           indeed
           ,
           is
           but
           natural
           to
           all
           Religions
           ,
           whilst
           they
           think
           their
           own
           either
           the
           only
           ,
           or
           at
           least
           the
           nearest
           way
           to
           Heaven
           .
        
         
           These
           Remora's
           ,
           how
           small
           stops
           soever
           to
           her
           advancing
           Glory
           ,
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           beholdiug
           with
           Impatience
           ,
           and
           repining
           even
           at
           her
           smallest
           Favours
           to
           the
           Romish
           Party
           ,
           whilst
           but
           the
           least
           Impediments
           to
           her
           yet
           unsatisfied
           Ambition
           ,
           (
           for
           to
           be
           Vppermost
           was
           not
           enough
           ,
           unless
           she
           could
           be
           All
           too
           )
           began
           to
           think
           of
           some
           more
           expeditious
           way
           for
           the
           weeding
           out
           of
           Popery
           ,
           and
           to
           look
           out
           for
           a
           sharper
           Pruning
           Hook
           than
           meer
           Teaching
           and
           Preaching
           to
           do
           the
           Work
           of
           Reformation
           ;
           set
           agog
           therefore
           upon
           Dispatch
           and
           Execution
           ,
           she
           felt
           the
           Itch
           of
           her
           Forefathers
           ,
           and
           if
           Honour
           and
           Reputation
           could
           be
           safe
           ,
           she
           should
           not
           scruple
           at
           a
           little
           of
           the
           old-fashion'd
           Shamble-work
           to
           gain
           her
           Point
           .
           But
           considering
           that
           to
           punish
           Dissent
           in
           Religion
           ,
           and
           barefac'd
           too
           with
           Death
           ,
           would
           carry
           too
           much
           the
           looks
           of
           Old
           Smithfield
           ,
           and
           so
           bestain
           her
           own
           long
           boasted
           Gentleness
           and
           Innocence
           ;
           she
           is
           therefore
           put
           to
           no
           little
           Study
           and
           Invention
           to
           over-leap
           this
           Difficulty
           ,
           and
           accomplish
           her
           Projection
           ;
           till
           at
           last
           she
           lights
           upon
           this
           incomparable
           Stratagem
           to
           Mask
           her
           Designs
           ,
           and
           smooth
           All
           ,
           viz.
           to
           punish
           Recusancy
           with
           DEATH
           ,
           under
           the
           black
           and
           dismal
           Brand
           of
           HIGH-TREASON
           .
           The
           Measures
           and
           Gradations
           used
           and
           made
           towards
           raising
           this
           Artful
           Superstructure
           ,
           take
           in
           short
           as
           follows
           .
        
         
         
           In
           the
           first
           year
           of
           Q.
           Elizabeth
           ,
           she
           asserts
           her
           
             Spiritual
             and
             Ecclesiastick
             Supremacy
             in
             all
             Things
             and
             Causes
             whatever
          
           ;
           and
           creates
           an
           Oath
           to
           be
           tendered
           her
           Subjects
           for
           confirmation
           of
           that
           Power
           .
        
         
           
             In
             the
             fifth
             of
             her
             Reign
             ,
             grown
             warmer
             in
             that
          
           Supremacy
           ,
           she
           imposes
           the
           Oath
           upon
           all
           her
           Ministers
           and
           Officers
           of
           the
           Government
           ,
           even
           to
           Lawyers
           ,
           Atturneys
           ,
           &c.
           and
           particularly
           to
           be
           taken
           by
           ever
           Member
           of
           Parliament
           :
           And
           the
           second
           Refusal
           of
           taking
           it
           ,
           after
           a
           first
           tender
           of
           it
           three
           Months
           before
           ,
           is
           made
           High
           Treason
           .
        
         
           
             In
             the
             13th
             of
             Her
             Reign
             .
          
           All
           persons
           taking
           upon
           them
           by
           Colour
           of
           any
           Bull
           ,
           Writing
           ,
           or
           Authority
           whatever
           to
           absolve
           or
           reconcile
           any
           persons
           ,
           or
           grant
           or
           promise
           to
           any
           person
           or
           persons
           within
           Her
           Majesties
           Dominions
           any
           such
           Absolution
           or
           Reconciliation
           by
           any
           Speech
           ,
           Preaching
           ,
           Teaching
           ,
           Writing
           ,
           or
           any
           other
           open
           deed
           ;
           and
           if
           any
           person
           or
           persons
           shall
           willingly
           take
           or
           receive
           such
           Absolution
           or
           Reconciliation
           shall
           suffer
           pains
           of
           Death
           ;
           And
           also
           lose
           and
           forefeit
           all
           their
           Lands
           ,
           Tenements
           ,
           Goods
           and
           Chattels
           ,
           as
           in
           Cases
           of
           
             High
             Treason
             .
             [
             A
             very
             soure
             sort
             of
             Grape
             to
             set
             their
             Childrens
             Teeth
             an
             Edge
             with
             .
             ]
          
        
         
           
             In
             the
             23d
             of
          
           Elizabeth
           ,
           
             This
             Act
             is
             explain'd
             and
             confirmed
             ,
             and
             in
             fine
             the
          
           Person
           reconciling
           or
           reconciled
           to
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           ,
           Priest
           or
           Lay-man
           ,
           are
           Equally
           declared
           Traytors
           ;
           
             and
             so
             onwards
             till
          
           the
           very
           taking
           of
           Orders
           from
           Rome
           is
           High
           Treason
           and
           doomed
           to
           suffer
           as
           such
           .
        
         
           Ay
           ,
           God
           knows
           a
           very
           just
           sentence
           if
           the
           Indictment
           be
           but
           true
           .
           But
           I
           desire
           to
           know
           by
           what
           Legerdemain
           is
           this
           Reconciliation
           made
           High
           Treason
           !
           Is
           either
           the
           Life
           or
           Dignity
           of
           the
           King
           or
           the
           Government
           ,
           struck
           at
           by
           my
           being
           a
           Member
           of
           This
           or
           That
           Communion
           !
           by
           my
           believing
           This
           or
           That
           the
           Way
           to
           Heaven
           ?
           Can
           Faith
           in
           God
           be
           Treason
           against
           Man
           !
           For
           that
           's
           the
           Result
           of
           the
           point
           .
           Can
           a
           Christians
           best
           Endeavour
           to
           save
           his
           own
           or
           
           his
           Brothers
           Soul
           be
           a
           Machination
           to
           destroy
           his
           Prince
           or
           his
           Country
           ;
           or
           can
           my
           praying
           or
           not
           praying
           to
           a
           Saint
           ,
           my
           adoring
           or
           not
           adoring
           the
           Eucharist
           render
           me
           a
           true
           or
           not
           true
           Leige-man
           .
           If
           Errours
           in
           Faith
           can
           amount
           to
           High
           Treason
           ,
           and
           the
           Government
           is
           in
           Conscience
           obliged
           to
           treat
           'em
           as
           such
           ,
           Lord
           have
           mercy
           upon
           us
           ,
           how
           came
           the
           Jews
           to
           live
           with
           that
           Impunity
           in
           the
           Common-wealth
           ,
           that
           instead
           of
           misbelieving
           in
           points
           of
           Doctrine
           ,
           believe
           not
           so
           much
           as
           in
           the
           Gospel
           or
           Christ
           himself
           .
        
         
           No
           ,
           no
           ,
           the
           Sophistry
           of
           the
           matter
           lyes
           not
           there
           ;
           't
           is
           not
           the
           Doctrine
           of
           a
           Romanist
           as
           to
           Godwards
           makes
           him
           a
           Traytor
           ,
           but
           his
           belief
           of
           the
           Popes
           being
           
             Head
             of
             the
             Church
          
           in
           Derogation
           to
           the
           Ecclesiastick
           Supremacy
           inherent
           to
           ,
           and
           Lodg'd
           in
           the
           Crown
           ,
           and
           so
           religiously
           asserted
           and
           maintained
           by
           the
           Protestant
           Laws
           of
           the
           Kingdom
           .
           
             Hinc
             Illae
             Lacrymae
          
           ?
           There
           lyes
           the
           Apostacy
           ,
           the
           hideous
           yawning
           Gulph
           that
           swallows
           all
           ,
           Faith
           ,
           Duty
           ,
           Honour
           ,
           Loyalty
           ,
           and
           consequently
           calls
           for
           Axes
           ,
           Halters
           ,
           Gibbets
           ,
           and
           what
           not
           .
        
         
           Is
           this
           the
           Treason
           then
           ;
           't
           is
           well
           we
           have
           fixt
           it
           there
           ;
           tho'
           upon
           true
           Inspection
           ,
           the
           Impeachment
           will
           be
           found
           full
           as
           feeble
           here
           as
           before
           .
           For
           this
           is
           but
           meer
           matter
           of
           Faith
           still
           all
           this
           while
           ,
           nor
           carries
           in
           it
           the
           least
           shadow
           of
           a
           Breach
           of
           the
           Subjects
           Duty
           to
           the
           Soveraign
           .
           For
           Instance
           ,
           when
           this
           Law
           was
           made
           ,
           suppose
           a
           poor
           
             Roman
             Catholick
          
           of
           those
           Days
           by
           an
           Invincible
           power
           of
           perswasion
           rooted
           and
           grounded
           in
           him
           by
           an
           Article
           of
           Faith
           (
           how
           rightfully
           is
           not
           the
           matter
           )
           received
           from
           Age
           to
           Age
           ,
           and
           Generation
           to
           Generation
           in
           favour
           of
           the
           Pope
           ,
           cou'd
           not
           possibly
           believe
           her
           then
           She
           Majesty
           by
           her
           Accession
           to
           the
           Crown
           to
           be
           instantly
           the
           Spiritual
           Head
           of
           the
           Church
           in
           all
           matters
           and
           Causes
           whatever
           ,
           that
           otherwise
           before
           was
           utterly
           incapable
           even
           of
           so
           much
           as
           a
           Subdeaconship
           in
           a
           Country
           Parish
           ,
           and
           if
           St.
           Paul
           may
           be
           believed
           ,
           
           not
           so
           much
           as
           qualified
           for
           speaking
           in
           a
           Religious
           Assembly
           ;
           yet
           nevertheless
           this
           
             Roman
             Catholick
          
           lived
           under
           her
           Government
           with
           all
           the
           Allegiance
           and
           Fealty
           ,
           in
           all
           Respects
           of
           Obedience
           ,
           and
           believed
           himself
           in
           conscience
           so
           obliged
           to
           do
           ,
           as
           much
           as
           any
           other
           of
           her
           more
           believing
           Protestant
           Subjects
           ,
           would
           it
           not
           be
           a
           little
           severe
           to
           adjudge
           him
           a
           Traytor
           .
        
         
           And
           that
           the
           Romish
           Opinion
           that
           the
           Spiritual
           Supremacy
           lyes
           not
           in
           the
           Temporal
           Prince
           ,
           is
           meer
           matter
           of
           Faith
           ,
           is
           demonstrable
           from
           the
           very
           Soveraign
           Power
           it self
           ,
           when
           so
           many
           successive
           Kings
           never
           believed
           they
           had
           that
           Supremacy
           themselves
           .
           For
           Prerogative
           is
           of
           its
           nature
           so
           jealous
           that
           tho'
           never
           so
           considerable
           a
           Jewel
           in
           a
           Crown
           had
           they
           had
           Faith
           to
           have
           challenged
           it
           theirs
           ,
           they
           would
           have
           had
           wit
           enough
           to
           have
           worne
           it
           too
           .
        
         
           What
           if
           our
           Protestant
           Kings
           and
           their
           Parliments
           for
           them
           believe
           that
           Supremacy
           wholy
           lodged
           in
           the
           Crown
           ;
           must
           their
           
             Roman
             Catholick
          
           Subjects
           be
           Traytors
           ,
           because
           they
           cannot
           be
           of
           their
           Belief
           ?
           If
           the
           Princes
           Belief
           must
           be
           the
           standart
           of
           the
           peoples
           Loyalty
           ,
           by
           the
           same
           Equity
           the
           Catholick
           Kings
           might
           have
           made
           it
           High-Treason
           in
           their
           Reign
           to
           assert
           that
           Supremacy
           in
           the
           Crown
           Then
           ;
           as
           the
           Protestant
           Kings
           do
           to
           deny
           it
           there
           now
           ;
           and
           consequently
           the
           Protestants
           then
           ,
           (
           if
           such
           there
           had
           been
           )
           might
           by
           Equal
           Justice
           have
           been
           Traytors
           too
           .
           If
           Crown'd
           Heads
           must
           necessarily
           be
           believed
           the
           Spiritual
           Heads
           of
           the
           Churches
           under
           their
           Obedience
           ,
           I
           wonder
           what
           strange
           stretch
           of
           Faith
           those
           Thousands
           of
           Christians
           must
           have
           that
           are
           born
           and
           bred
           Subjects
           to
           the
           
             Mahometan
             Grand
             Signior
          
           .
        
         
           But
           that
           the
           Members
           of
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           may
           not
           look
           altogether
           so
           black
           for
           this
           unhappy
           Part
           of
           their
           Belief
           ;
           
           and
           that
           their
           asserting
           of
           that
           Spiritual
           Supremacy
           in
           their
           Pope
           does
           not
           any
           ways
           threaten
           either
           the
           Crown
           or
           the
           publick
           peace
           ;
           That
           wise
           and
           prudent
           Monarch
           King
           James
           the
           First
           shall
           be
           their
           Compurgator
           .
           For
           as
           many
           Laws
           as
           that
           Prince
           made
           for
           the
           Defence
           of
           the
           Establisht
           Church
           of
           England
           ,
           and
           as
           great
           Industry
           as
           he
           used
           for
           the
           extirpation
           of
           the
           Romish
           Religion
           ,
           he
           was
           nevertheless
           pleased
           to
           allow
           the
           Pope
           ,
           tho'
           not
           Vniversal
           Head
           of
           the
           Church
           ,
           yet
           Patriarch
           of
           the
           West
           (
           in
           which
           precinct
           of
           consequence
           must
           England
           be
           included
           .
           )
           And
           if
           so
           zealous
           a
           Protestant
           King
           thought
           it
           no
           Diminution
           to
           his
           own
           or
           his
           Churches
           Dignity
           to
           be
           of
           that
           Opinion
           ,
           and
           to
           grant
           the
           Pope
           that
           Prerogative
           ;
           what
           mortal
           High
           Treason
           against
           the
           Crown
           of
           England
           do
           the
           Members
           of
           the
           Popes
           own
           Church
           commit
           in
           throwing
           him
           in
           the
           East
           too
           (
           a
           part
           of
           the
           World
           not
           much
           relating
           to
           us
           )
           into
           the
           Bargain
           ;
           and
           so
           making
           him
           Vniversal
           Patriarch
           .
           
             Jacob.
             Contr.
             Perron
          
           .
        
         
           
             But
             some
             People
             will
             tell
             you
             ,
          
           'T
           is
           almost
           an
           Impossibility
           to
           fancy
           any
           such
           things
           as
           Principles
           of
           Loyalty
           in
           a
           Romish
           Subject
           to
           a
           Protestant
           King.
           
        
         
           I
           shall
           not
           endeavour
           to
           confute
           this
           uncharitable
           Censure
           ,
           by
           the
           Vniversal
           Heroick
           Examples
           ,
           of
           that
           Parties
           Loyalty
           in
           the
           Battels
           of
           Charles
           the
           First
           ;
           so
           truly
           may
           I
           call
           it
           Vniversal
           ,
           that
           upon
           Petitions
           made
           to
           Cromwell
           for
           his
           Clemency
           to
           the
           Roman
           Catholicks
           ,
           he
           was
           observed
           to
           challenge
           them
           to
           prove
           so
           much
           as
           one
           Man
           of
           that
           Religion
           that
           had
           ever
           fought
           for
           him
           or
           served
           him
           .
           But
           to
           wave
           that
           Plea
           ,
           How
           are
           we
           sure
           that
           the
           Romanists
           are
           guilty
           of
           Traytorous
           Principles
           !
           Do's
           any
           man
           of
           them
           own
           any
           such
           Principles
           !
           
             No
             ,
             sure
             they
             have
             more
             Wit
             than
             to
             talk
             Treason
             ,
             and
             be
             Hang'd
             for
             it
             .
             If
             they
             are
             so
             hardy
             as
             to
             do
             that
             ,
             we
             have
             other
             Laws
             to
             noose
             'em
             without
             the
             help
             of
             Penal
             Statutes
             .
          
        
         
         
           
             Do
             they
             then
             commit
             any
             open
             Act
             of
             Treason
             !
          
           Let
           'em
           do
           that
           if
           they
           dare
           .
           If
           we
           once
           catch
           them
           'em
           at
           that
           Game
           the
           Government
           has
           'em
           fast
           enough
           by
           the
           Heels
           and
           the
           Necks
           too
           .
           Nor
           is
           that
           the
           Treason
           ,
           that
           these
           Statutes
           pretend
           to
           arraign
           .
           Who
           ever
           heard
           of
           any
           
             Overt
             act
          
           of
           Treason
           indicted
           by
           the
           13th
           or
           23d
           of
           Elizabeth
           .
        
         
           Then
           ,
           if
           neither
           Speaking
           nor
           Acting
           of
           Treason
           be
           the
           Capital
           Guilt
           these
           Statutes
           are
           levell'd
           at
           ;
           then
           Thinking
           of
           Treason
           must
           be
           the
           Crime
           .
           A
           Roman
           Catholick
           then
           belike
           is
           such
           an
           offender
           ,
           that
           by
           the
           very
           Affections
           of
           his
           Soul
           cannot
           be
           Loyal
           to
           the
           Crown
           ;
           and
           to
           prove
           all
           this
           mortal
           Accusation
           infallibly
           true
           ,
           the
           Protestant
           Wisdom
           has
           by
           
             Divine
             Inspiration
          
           form'd
           a
           Law
           to
           arraign
           and
           condemn
           the
           very
           
             Thoughts
             of
             the
             Heart
          
           ,
           of
           which
           God
           only
           can
           be
           Judge
           .
        
         
           In
           fine
           ,
           if
           the
           Government
           can
           make
           matter
           of
           Faith
           ,
           nay
           even
           thoughts
           Themselves
           High
           Treason
           ,
           when
           their
           Hand
           was
           in
           they
           might
           e'ne
           as
           Lawfully
           have
           made
           it
           High
           Treaon
           to
           eat
           too
           .
           For
           if
           the
           firm
           Belief
           in
           God
           ,
           and
           the
           zealous
           Worship
           of
           him
           by
           the
           Best
           Light
           of
           a
           Christian
           Conscience
           ,
           be
           either
           the
           
             Bread
             of
             Life
          
           ,
           or
           at
           least
           the
           means
           to
           get
           it
           ,
           as
           we
           are
           so
           taught
           ,
           the
           same
           Legality
           that
           can
           condemn
           the
           one
           may
           exclude
           the
           other
           too
           .
        
         
           
             To
             this
             they
             'll
             say
          
           ,
           'T
           is
           true
           indeed
           a
           Lay
           Romanist
           is
           a
           more
           excusable
           ,
           and
           that
           part
           of
           the
           Statute
           that
           affects
           him
           is
           a
           little
           hard
           ;
           however
           't
           is
           very
           strong
           ,
           and
           nothing
           but
           High
           Justice
           ,
           against
           the
           Romish
           Priest
           ;
           for
           here
           are
           visible
           Overt-acts
           of
           Treason
           :
           As
           taking
           of
           Orders
           from
           Rome
           ,
           in
           themselves
           little
           less
           than
           Damnable
           and
           Diabolical
           ,
           and
           undoubtedly
           Antichristian
           ,
           as
           received
           from
           the
           Papal
           See
           ,
           the
           very
           seat
           of
           Antichrist
           ;
           and
           then
           returning
           home
           again
           expresly
           against
           
           the
           Commands
           of
           the
           Law
           ;
           All
           which
           outragious
           Transgressions
           are
           but
           reasonably
           declared
           High
           Treason
           ,
           and
           justly
           exposed
           to
           the
           severest
           of
           punishments
           under
           the
           Legality
           of
           that
           Denomination
           .
        
         
           To
           this
           Thundering
           Charge
           ,
           as
           big
           as
           it
           sounds
           ,
           I
           shall
           only
           make
           this
           short
           Reply
           .
        
         
           If
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           has
           and
           always
           does
           admit
           a
           Convert
           Romish
           Priest
           into
           the
           Protestant
           Clergy
           ,
           without
           any
           Reordination
           to
           capacitate
           him
           for
           that
           Admission
           ,
           as
           we
           need
           look
           no
           further
           than
           to
           the
           constant
           practice
           of
           the
           Church
           ,
           (
           without
           so
           much
           as
           one
           example
           to
           the
           contrary
           )
           from
           the
           very
           beginning
           of
           the
           Reformation
           ,
           how
           unjustly
           are
           taking
           Orders
           from
           Rome
           charged
           with
           High-Treason
           !
           If
           the
           Orders
           from
           Rome
           be
           in
           themselves
           Holy
           and
           Sacred
           ,
           how
           are
           they
           Damnable
           ,
           or
           Anti-christian
           ?
           And
           how
           the
           taking
           of
           them
           High-Treason
           ?
           If
           not
           Holy
           nor
           Sacred
           (
           as
           if
           High
           Treason
           in
           the
           very
           receiving
           of
           them
           they
           cannot
           be
           )
           does
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           entertain
           Pastors
           into
           her
           Ministerial
           Function
           unconsecrated
           for
           the
           Divine
           Service
           of
           God
           ?
           God
           forbid
           !
           No
           ,
           the
           very
           Practice
           and
           Concession
           of
           the
           Church
           in
           this
           Case
           does
           so
           confront
           the
           palpable
           Injustice
           of
           this
           Statute
           ,
           as
           nothing
           can
           be
           plainer
           .
           And
           how
           Black
           ,
           how
           Capital
           ,
           or
           Trayterous
           soever
           the
           
             Popular
             Calumny
          
           ,
           or
           the
           
             Protestant
             Law-makers
          
           had
           occasion
           to
           make
           these
           Romish
           Orders
           ,
           under
           all
           their
           loads
           of
           Guilt
           ,
           they
           stood
           upright
           enough
           not
           to
           want
           the
           Crutch
           of
           an
           Act
           of
           Parliament
           ,
           as
           some
           others
           have
           done
           (
           as
           much
           
             more
             Sacred
          
           as
           they
           are
           )
           for
           their
           Support
           and
           Confirmation
           .
           And
           if
           such
           are
           the
           Romish
           Orders
           ,
           and
           the
           free
           choice
           of
           our
           Belief
           in
           God
           ,
           and
           the
           Church
           we
           hope
           to
           be
           saved
           in
           ,
           be
           in
           our
           own
           Election
           (
           for
           our
           own
           Souls
           are
           answerable
           for
           it
           )
           by
           the
           same
           Liberty
           of
           
           choice
           why
           may
           not
           a
           man
           be
           either
           a
           Member
           or
           Pastor
           of
           the
           Flock
           he
           chooses
           ,
           as
           his
           Abilities
           to
           serve
           God
           in
           either
           station
           shall
           dictate
           to
           him
           .
           And
           if
           no
           such
           Holy
           Orders
           be
           to
           be
           had
           and
           received
           at
           home
           ,
           why
           is
           it
           Death
           to
           seek
           for
           them
           abroad
           ?
           And
           why
           are
           men
           banisht
           and
           excluded
           from
           their
           Native
           Right
           in
           the
           Kingdom
           in
           which
           they
           are
           born
           ,
           for
           only
           endeavouring
           to
           secure
           themselves
           ,
           their
           no
           less
           Native
           Right
           in
           that
           of
           Heaven
           ?
        
         
           One
           observation
           in
           the
           Statute
           of
           the
           Fifth
           of
           her
           Reign
           I
           had
           almost
           forgotten
           ,
           not
           a
           little
           worthy
           Remark
           .
           In
           this
           Statute
           where
           the
           Incapacity
           of
           taking
           the
           Oath
           of
           the
           Queens
           Spiritual
           Supremacy
           (
           for
           a
           Refusal
           of
           an
           Oath
           in
           that
           Case
           is
           only
           a
           
             Conscientious
             Incapacity
          
           of
           taking
           it
           )
           is
           made
           High-Treason
           ,
           in
           one
           Clause
           of
           it
           the
           Queen
           is
           pleased
           to
           tell
           us
           ,
           
             she
             is
             so
             sufficiently
             assured
             of
             the
             Faith
             and
             Loyalty
             of
             her
             Temporal
             Lords
             ,
             that
             this
             Act
             ,
             nor
             any
             thing
             contain'd
             in
             it
             ,
             shall
             not
             extend
             to
             her
             Barons
             ,
             nor
             the
             Oath
             to
             be
             imposed
             upon
             them
             ▪
          
           &c.
           
        
         
           What
           Contradictions
           and
           Cobweb
           Laws
           are
           here
           !
           A
           Commoner
           ,
           belike
           ,
           for
           his
           Incapacity
           of
           taking
           that
           Oath
           ,
           is
           guilty
           of
           H●gh-Treason
           :
           But
           a
           Baron
           so
           incapacitated
           is
           a
           very
           
             faithful
             and
             Loyal
             Gentleman
          
           ;
           as
           if
           they
           were
           not
           both
           of
           them
           
             equally
             Subjects
          
           to
           the
           Crown
           ,
           and
           equally
           Criminal
           in
           any
           Transgression
           against
           it
           .
           'T
           is
           true
           ,
           had
           the
           particular
           Favour
           and
           Indulgence
           of
           the
           Government
           resolved
           to
           exempt
           a
           Peer
           from
           the
           Penalty
           of
           this
           Law
           ,
           it
           had
           been
           something
           ;
           but
           to
           discharge
           him
           
             eo
             nomine
          
           from
           the
           Guilt
           too
           ,
           makes
           the
           whole
           Statute
           such
           an
           Arbitrary
           Declaration
           of
           Treason
           ,
           that
           both
           the
           Compilers
           of
           such
           Laws
           ,
           and
           the
           Defenders
           of
           them
           ,
           ought
           to
           blush
           at
           .
           But
           as
           whole
           as
           the
           Barons
           kept
           their
           Scutcheons
           in
           this
           Statute
           ,
           they
           came
           in
           for
           a
           snack
           in
           the
           13th
           of
           her
           Reign
           ,
           being
           in
           that
           Statute
           Indictable
           for
           Delinquency
           against
           it
           .
        
         
         
           What
           Rubbish
           is
           here
           put
           together
           to
           build
           the
           great
           Fence
           of
           a
           Church
           with
           !
           But
           our
           Church
           has
           at
           least
           this
           Apology
           ,
           that
           it
           does
           not
           pretend
           to
           Infallibility
           .
           And
           who
           knows
           but
           the
           Jargon
           of
           these
           ,
           and
           the
           rest
           of
           her
           
             Penal
             Laws
          
           might
           be
           
             wilful
             Oversights
          
           on
           purpose
           to
           make
           out
           her
           Assertion
           to
           the
           World
           ,
           and
           prove
           her
           Fallibility
           true
           .
        
         
           But
           to
           come
           to
           the
           full
           Result
           of
           all
           :
           Here
           's
           the
           
             Church
             of
             England
          
           so
           
             poorly
             prevaricating
          
           ,
           as
           to
           follow
           those
           very
           steps
           ,
           which
           with
           all
           her
           highest
           Noise
           and
           Exclamations
           she
           pretends
           ,
           are
           her
           greatest
           Detestation
           and
           Abhorrence
           .
           And
           whilst
           the
           more
           frank
           and
           generous
           Romanist
           Enacts
           and
           Executes
           his
           Capital
           Laws
           against
           Heresy
           from
           his
           Church
           ,
           under
           the
           downright
           Name
           of
           Heresy
           ;
           our
           poorer
           spirited
           Protestant
           Law-makers
           ,
           are
           for
           punishing
           Heresy
           from
           their
           Church
           under
           Masque
           and
           Disguise
           ,
           obtruding
           their
           Penal
           Laws
           upon
           the
           World
           under
           the
           meanest
           of
           Hypocrisy
           and
           Imposture
           .
        
         
           And
           to
           be
           plain
           with
           our
           later
           Protestant
           Law-makers
           ,
           the
           Shamm
           past
           so
           current
           then
           ,
           that
           it
           has
           been
           practised
           ever
           since
           .
           Is
           there
           any
           one
           Law
           made
           against
           our
           later
           Nonconformists
           whose
           preamble
           does
           not
           run
           upon
           this
           Topick
           ,
           the
           Breach
           of
           the
           Peace
           ,
           and
           the
           undermining
           the
           very
           Foundations
           of
           the
           Government
           ;
           and
           all
           for
           deserting
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           ,
           and
           meeting
           in
           their
           own
           Religious
           Assemblies
           ,
           to
           offer
           up
           their
           Prayers
           and
           Devotions
           to
           God
           according
           to
           their
           Consciences
           .
           Was
           there
           ever
           a
           late
           Conventicle
           disturb'd
           with
           any
           other
           Warrant
           than
           as
           
             Riotously
             and
             Routously
             assembled
          
           ,
           and
           thereupon
           punisht
           with
           Fines
           ,
           Imprisonments
           ,
           and
           Sequestrations
           ;
           sometimes
           even
           to
           the
           Ruines
           of
           whole
           Families
           .
           Does
           not
           the
           same
           Masquerade
           run
           through
           all
           the
           Penal
           Laws
           ?
           And
           the
           very
           
           meer
           meeting
           to
           Worship
           God
           charged
           with
           no
           less
           than
           Sedition
           and
           Tumult
           .
        
         
           But
           wherein
           lyes
           the
           Sedition
           and
           Tumult
           ?
           Was
           it
           in
           their
           so
           meeting
           ?
           No
           ,
           sure
           .
           For
           as
           the
           Intention
           makes
           the
           Guilt
           ,
           the
           Intention
           was
           only
           a
           
             Religious
             Worship
          
           ,
           and
           not
           a
           State-disturbance
           .
        
         
           Was
           the
           Sedition
           then
           in
           the
           Doctrines
           they
           Preach'd
           ?
           If
           so
           ,
           why
           was
           it
           not
           proved
           against
           them
           ?
           Their
           Meeting-House
           Doors
           stood
           open
           ,
           and
           their
           Enemies
           were
           both
           potent
           and
           numerous
           enough
           to
           hear
           and
           detect
           any
           Seditious
           Design
           or
           Doctrines
           against
           the
           Crown
           or
           State.
           And
           the
           Law
           was
           furnisht
           both
           with
           Rods
           and
           Axes
           ,
           to
           punish
           any
           Crime
           of
           that
           kind
           according
           to
           its
           Demerit
           ,
           before
           the
           Penal
           Laws
           were
           so
           much
           as
           thought
           on
           .
        
         
           No
           ,
           tho'
           that
           was
           the
           Pretence
           ,
           it
           pincht
           not
           there
           The
           Dissenters
           grew
           too
           numerous
           ,
           and
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           began
           to
           see
           her
           Grandeur
           shrink
           ,
           and
           her
           Dominion
           lessen
           ,
           and
           therefore
           her
           
             Old
             Arts
          
           must
           once
           more
           be
           her
           Refuge
           .
           The
           Nonconformists
           must
           be
           crusht
           and
           supprest
           ,
           and
           to
           avoid
           all
           imputations
           of
           Oppression
           and
           
             Cruelty
             ,
             Sedition
          
           and
           Riots
           must
           be
           the
           charge
           against
           them
           ,
           and
           the
           Law
           gilded
           over
           with
           that
           fair
           Title
           to
           make
           it
           swallowable
           .
           'T
           is
           true
           ,
           indeed
           ,
           the
           Law
           here
           did
           not
           reach
           to
           Death
           ,
           however
           it
           took
           care
           to
           make
           their
           Purses
           ,
           if
           not
           their
           Veins
           ,
           bleed
           for
           it
           ,
           and
           that
           too
           sometimes
           with
           so
           total
           a
           Drein
           ,
           that
           whole
           Families
           have
           been
           reduced
           to
           the
           condition
           of
           starving
           ,
           which
           is
           the
           very
           next
           door
           to
           it
           .
           And
           all
           things
           consider'd
           ,
           Liberty
           next
           to
           Life
           is
           so
           dear
           ,
           that
           whole
           years
           of
           noysome
           Imprisonment
           have
           been
           very
           little
           the
           easier
           punishment
           .
        
         
         
           Having
           given
           you
           this
           true
           Pourtraict
           of
           our
           Penal
           Laws
           ,
           I
           shall
           only
           add
           some
           few
           Lineaments
           more
           ,
           and
           so
           finish
           the
           piece
           .
           And
           to
           make
           a
           farther
           Ballance
           betwixt
           our selves
           and
           Rome
           in
           that
           point
           ,
           how
           unchristian
           or
           unwarrantable
           soever
           all
           such
           Penal
           Inflictions
           for
           meer
           Conscience
           may
           be
           ,
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           has
           ,
           or
           at
           least
           fancies
           she
           has
           some
           little
           Pretext
           for
           such
           Laws
           .
           For
           under
           her
           famous
           Tenent
           of
           
             Extra
             Ecclesiam
             nulla
             salus
          
           ,
           and
           her
           Confinement
           of
           Salvation
           only
           within
           her
           own
           Boundaries
           ,
           she
           may
           have
           sometimes
           consented
           to
           the
           Practice
           of
           now
           and
           then
           cutting
           off
           a
           
             stray
             Sheep
          
           ,
           to
           terrifie
           the
           rest
           of
           the
           Flock
           from
           leaping
           the
           Fold
           ,
           as
           imagining
           to
           her self
           in
           so
           doing
           ,
           and
           in
           now
           and
           then
           Sacrificing
           one
           or
           two
           lost
           Sons
           of
           Perdition
           (
           for
           such
           she
           accounts
           them
           )
           and
           thereby
           lopping
           off
           some
           corrupt
           Member
           already
           past
           hope
           of
           Redemption
           ,
           she
           only
           secures
           possibly
           the
           whole
           Body
           ,
           as
           she
           thinks
           ,
           from
           Apostacy
           and
           Damnation
           .
           And
           consequently
           such
           exemplary
           Acts
           ,
           though
           of
           the
           greatest
           Rigour
           ,
           are
           only
           intended
           as
           absolutely
           necessary
           for
           that
           Great
           End
           ,
           
             Vniversal
             Salvation
          
           .
           But
           ,
           alas
           !
           our
           more
           Charitable
           Church
           that
           pretends
           not
           to
           bound
           the
           Grace
           of
           God
           ,
           but
           by
           a
           larger
           latitude
           and
           more
           extended
           Operation
           of
           the
           Blood
           of
           Christ
           ,
           Equally
           allows
           Salvation
           to
           true
           Zeal
           and
           Piety
           in
           both
           Churches
           ,
           and
           indeed
           in
           all
           Christian
           Professions
           :
           Under
           all
           this
           Concession
           ,
           I
           say
           ,
           our
           Protestant
           Church
           utterly
           wants
           this
           Loop-hole
           ,
           and
           upon
           true
           Examination
           will
           be
           found
           wholly
           inexcusable
           ,
           if
           not
           impardonable
           .
           For
           in
           executing
           of
           her
           Sanguinary
           Laws
           in
           punishment
           of
           meer
           matter
           of
           Conscience
           ,
           she
           cuts
           off
           ,
           not
           like
           Rome
           ,
           the
           supposed
           Members
           of
           Perdition
           ;
           but
           even
           those
           Professors
           of
           Christianity
           ,
           which
           by
           her
           own
           Confession
           may
           be
           equally
           with
           her self
           the
           
             Sons
             of
             Grace
             ,
             and
             Coheirs
             of
             Salvation
             .
          
        
         
         
           Nay
           ,
           I
           'le
           venture
           to
           add
           one
           
             bold
             Word
          
           more
           ,
           because
           a
           true
           one
           .
           The
           Church
           of
           England
           in
           her
           
             once
             executing
          
           of
           her
           sanguinary
           Laws
           ,
           is
           undoubtedly
           guilty
           of
           more
           Barbarity
           than
           the
           ten
           Primitive
           
             Heathen
             Persecutions
          
           .
           For
           in
           all
           cases
           of
           Suffering
           for
           Religion
           ,
           't
           is
           an
           undeniable
           Maxim
           ,
           That
           
             He
             that
             makes
             the
             Martyr
             least
             thinks
             he
             makes
             him
             .
          
           The
           bloodiest
           
             Pagan
             Tyrants
          
           in
           all
           their
           studied
           Arts
           of
           Blood
           and
           Christian
           Massacre
           ,
           did
           not
           believe
           that
           they
           butchered
           the
           then
           only
           Professors
           of
           Truth
           and
           Heirs
           of
           Heaven
           :
           But
           on
           the
           contrary
           ,
           in
           Devotion
           to
           their
           own
           
             supposed
             true
          
           Deities
           ,
           they
           thought
           they
           only
           executed
           
             Apostates
             ,
             Blasphemers
          
           and
           Infidels
           ;
           for
           such
           they
           accounted
           the
           Christians
           as
           profest
           Deserters
           of
           their
           Heathen
           Gods
           and
           Sacrifices
           :
           Nor
           is
           the
           forementioned
           Romish
           Case
           much
           different
           ,
           as
           lying
           under
           the
           unhappy
           Belief
           of
           Hereticks
           irreparable
           State
           of
           Damnation
           .
           But
           all
           this
           while
           our
           Church
           of
           England
           (
           I
           am
           sorry
           to
           her
           Shame
           it
           must
           be
           spoken
           )
           out-do's
           the
           very
           Heathens
           themselves
           ,
           in
           enacting
           and
           executing
           those
           Penal
           Laws
           ,
           by
           which
           she
           cuts
           off
           those
           very
           Members
           of
           Christianity
           ,
           who
           (
           if
           true
           Zealots
           in
           their
           Profession
           )
           she
           owns
           are
           in
           the
           number
           of
           the
           
             Elect
             of
             God
          
           :
           And
           if
           any
           true
           Zealots
           amongst
           them
           ,
           those
           certainly
           that
           have
           Courage
           and
           Constancy
           to
           DIE
           for
           their
           Religion
           ,
           are
           not
           the
           least
           of
           them
           ;
           and
           consequently
           she
           cannot
           deny
           ,
           but
           in
           executing
           those
           Laws
           ,
           
             she
             both
             makes
             the
             Martyr
             ,
             and
             knows
             she
             makes
             him
             too
             .
          
        
         
           And
           if
           she
           's
           so
           blameable
           in
           her
           Severity
           against
           the
           Romanists
           ,
           much
           more
           criminal
           must
           her
           Rigour
           against
           the
           Dissenters
           be
           ,
           whom
           she
           owns
           to
           differ
           from
           her self
           in
           little
           more
           than
           Ceremonies
           and
           
           Punctilio's
           .
        
         
         
           Nay
           ,
           the
           Ferment
           has
           sometimes
           boyl'd
           so
           high
           ,
           that
           our
           Protestant
           Church
           has
           put
           her
           Zeal
           upon
           the
           stretch
           to
           find
           means
           to
           vent
           her
           Indignation
           ,
           when
           some
           of
           those
           very
           Laws
           against
           Recusancy
           have
           been
           extended
           against
           the
           
             Protestant
             Dissenters
          
           ,
           and
           the
           
             greatest
             part
          
           of
           their
           Sufferings
           received
           from
           the
           Lash
           of
           those
           Laws
           .
           I
           shall
           not
           pretend
           to
           dive
           so
           far
           ,
           as
           to
           ascertain
           whether
           that
           Comprehension
           was
           originally
           design'd
           by
           those
           Laws
           ,
           or
           otherwise
           an
           
             artificial
             Superstructure
          
           to
           serve
           a
           
             State
             turn
          
           ;
           but
           either
           way
           the
           severity
           of
           those
           Laws
           is
           not
           a
           little
           notorious
           ,
           where
           so
           trivial
           Matters
           of
           Dissent
           in
           Religion
           ,
           as
           has
           been
           said
           before
           ,
           have
           been
           so
           cruelly
           treated
           .
        
         
           But
           if
           our
           Protestant
           Church
           cannot
           possibly
           be
           reconciled
           to
           
             Liberty
             of
             Conscience
          
           ,
           and
           therefore
           these
           Laws
           were
           her
           Weapons
           against
           it
           ,
           her
           more
           generous
           way
           ,
           at
           least
           more
           agreeable
           to
           a
           Christian
           Profession
           ,
           had
           been
           first
           fairly
           to
           have
           overthrown
           it
           by
           
             Dint
             of
             Argument
          
           ,
           before
           she
           had
           made
           use
           of
           
             Dint
             of
             Steel
          
           to
           do
           it
           by
           :
           And
           for
           that
           purpose
           ,
           I
           wonder
           how
           that
           famous
           Bishop
           Taylor
           has
           past
           for
           so
           great
           a
           Doctor
           of
           the
           Church
           all
           this
           while
           ,
           and
           his
           Treatise
           upon
           that
           subject
           call'd
           
             Liberty
             of
             Prophecying
          
           not
           yet
           answer'd
           ;
           or
           at
           least
           the
           Author
           under
           no
           small
           
             Ecclesiastick
             Fulminations
          
           (
           if
           no
           other
           way
           to
           answer
           it
           )
           for
           so
           terrible
           a
           Blow
           against
           the
           Churches
           long
           main
           Favourite
           Bulwark
           ,
           her
           
             Penal
             Laws
          
           .
        
         
           
             'T
             is
             true
             ,
             some
             People
             will
             object
             ,
          
           What
           are
           all
           these
           Laws
           to
           the
           CHURCH
           ,
           when
           enacted
           only
           by
           the
           Civil
           Power
           as
           an
           Expedient
           for
           its
           own
           Security
           and
           Defence
           ,
           and
           therefore
           warrantable
           and
           lawful
           ;
           nor
           in
           any
           respect
           are
           chargeable
           upon
           the
           Ecclesiasticks
           .
        
         
         
           Alas
           !
           this
           is
           such
           a
           feeble
           Objection
           ,
           that
           't
           is
           scarce
           to
           be
           named
           without
           Blushing
           :
           As
           if
           the
           Clergy
           did
           not
           act
           in
           Parliament
           by
           their
           Representatives
           ;
           nay
           ,
           the
           very
           Bishops
           sitting
           there
           in
           Person
           ,
           assenting
           to
           ,
           and
           undoubtedly
           little
           less
           than
           
             Original
             Founders
          
           of
           those
           Laws
           .
           But
           grant
           it
           ,
           as
           they
           say
           ,
           the
           meer
           Establishment
           of
           the
           Civil
           Power
           :
           The
           Clergy
           by
           owning
           the
           Justice
           ,
           and
           asserting
           the
           Necessity
           of
           such
           Laws
           for
           Defence
           of
           their
           Church
           ,
           the
           Lay-Power
           in
           this
           Case
           is
           little
           more
           than
           the
           Cats
           Paw
           to
           rake
           out
           the
           Chesnut
           .
           Nor
           are
           the
           Civil
           Rulers
           and
           Temporal
           Power
           of
           a
           Christian
           Government
           any
           ways
           more
           authorised
           to
           outgo
           the
           Gospel
           Moderation
           and
           Clemency
           for
           any
           Politick
           Consideration
           whatever
           ,
           than
           the
           more
           immediate
           Oracles
           of
           Truth
           the
           Preachers
           themselves
           .
        
         
           And
           this
           the
           great
           Legislators
           of
           those
           Penal
           Statutes
           very
           well
           knew
           ,
           and
           therefore
           as
           I
           told
           you
           before
           ,
           they
           
             cunningly
             converted
          
           Recusancy
           into
           
             High
             Treason
          
           ,
           and
           Non-conformity
           into
           Riots
           and
           Routs
           ;
           to
           find
           something
           ,
           tho
           but
           seemingly
           justifiable
           for
           he
           Fangs
           of
           their
           Laws
           to
           lay
           hold
           of
           ;
           and
           so
           boulster'd
           up
           their
           Penal
           Statutes
           to
           make
           them
           able
           to
           
             walk
             upright
          
           .
        
         
           I
           'le
           only
           put
           this
           one
           Question
           to
           all
           the
           Doctors
           of
           our
           Church
           :
           With
           what
           Conscience
           can
           a
           Church
           that
           owns
           it self
           Fallible
           ,
           establish
           Laws
           to
           punish
           Dissenters
           in
           Religion
           ,
           when
           by
           her
           own
           Concession
           of
           Fallibility
           ,
           she
           neither
           has
           nor
           CAN
           have
           any
           Certainty
           or
           Assurance
           (
           how
           strong
           soever
           she
           thinks
           or
           hopes
           her
           own
           Foundation
           )
           but
           that
           she
           punishes
           those
           that
           possibly
           may
           be
           more
           in
           the
           Right
           than
           her self
           ;
           more
           especially
           ,
           in
           those
           Professions
           that
           found
           their
           Dissenting
           Doctrins
           on
           her
           own
           Basis
           the
           Scripture
           ?
        
         
         
           I
           cannot
           tell
           what
           Equity
           wiser
           Heads
           may
           find
           out
           for
           the
           Ordination
           of
           Penal
           Laws
           ;
           but
           truly
           in
           my
           Opinion
           ,
           the
           Great
           
             Prince
             of
             Peace
          
           that
           reprimanded
           the
           Drawing
           of
           that
           Sword
           that
           cut
           off
           but
           the
           Ear
           of
           the
           High
           Priests
           Servant
           ,
           tho
           in
           his
           own
           immediate
           Cause
           ,
           very
           little
           intended
           the
           raising
           his
           Church
           ,
           or
           the
           propagation
           of
           his
           Gospel
           ,
           by
           either
           Axes
           or
           Gibbets
           ,
           or
           Gaols
           or
           Dungeons
           .
           And
           He
           that
           left
           us
           the
           Standard
           of
           Christianity
           in
           the
           Innocence
           of
           Doves
           ,
           never
           commission'd
           us
           the
           Rapine
           of
           Vultures
           ;
           and
           though
           we
           are
           conceded
           the
           Subtilty
           of
           Serpents
           ,
           I
           know
           no
           warrant
           that
           he
           gave
           us
           either
           for
           the
           Stings
           or
           the
           Poyson
           of
           them
           .
        
         
           And
           tho
           my
           Zeal
           for
           Truth
           makes
           me
           thus
           plain
           in
           detecting
           the
           only
           Shame
           and
           Frailty
           of
           the
           Reform'd
           Church
           ,
           I
           hope
           she
           has
           Goodness
           enough
           to
           forgive
           the
           Boldness
           of
           a
           Blushing
           Son
           ,
           who
           is
           no
           otherwise
           solicitous
           than
           for
           her
           covering
           her
           own
           Nakedness
           .
           And
           that
           I
           may
           truly
           term
           it
           such
           ,
           the
           Reformation
           that
           otherwise
           may
           boast
           her
           Purity
           and
           Principles
           only
           founded
           on
           
             Holy
             Writ
          
           ,
           and
           all
           the
           rest
           of
           her
           Doctrins
           and
           Practices
           derived
           from
           those
           sacred
           Oracles
           ,
           will
           be
           only
           found
           tripping
           here
           ;
           and
           in
           all
           her
           support
           of
           Scriptural
           Records
           in
           all
           other
           Points
           ,
           I
           am
           afraid
           must
           have
           recourse
           even
           to
           the
           exploded
           Authority
           of
           TRADITION
           only
           for
           her
           
             Penal
             Laws
          
           .
           For
           I
           shrewdly
           suspect
           that
           
             Lollards
             Towers
          
           and
           
             Inquisition
             Houses
          
           (
           let
           her
           mince
           it
           as
           she
           will
           )
           will
           be
           found
           the
           
             only
             Precedents
          
           for
           the
           Estates
           she
           has
           confiscated
           ,
           the
           Families
           she
           has
           beggar'd
           the
           Gaols
           she
           has
           fill'd
           ,
           besides
           her
           sometimes
           loading
           of
           Gibbets
           ,
           and
           ripping
           up
           the
           Bowels
           even
           of
           her
           own
           Co-Disciples
           ,
           because
           Dissenting
           Professors
           of
           Christ
           ,
           and
           all
           by
           her
           Penal
           Laws
           .
        
         
           Nor
           will
           it
           suffice
           for
           an
           Excuse
           to
           insinuate
           that
           the
           Establishment
           of
           Religion
           and
           Conformity
           of
           Worship
           on
           one
           side
           ,
           and
           the
           Preservation
           of
           Peace
           and
           Tranquillity
           of
           
           the
           State
           on
           the
           other
           side
           ,
           exact
           the
           necessity
           of
           such
           rigid
           Laws
           .
           [
           Though
           by
           the
           by
           ,
           the
           Peace
           of
           States
           is
           rather
           destroy'd
           then
           upheld
           by
           such
           Laws
           ;
           for
           what
           Civil
           War
           in
           almost
           all
           the
           Christian
           World
           ,
           that
           directly
           or
           indirectly
           has
           not
           had
           the
           Oppression
           of
           some
           Religious
           Party
           ,
           its
           greatest
           ,
           if
           not
           only
           Incendiary
           ?
           ]
        
         
           No
           ;
           to
           gain
           the
           first
           of
           these
           great
           Ends
           ,
           let
           the
           Teachers
           and
           Professors
           of
           our
           Establish'd
           Church
           live
           up
           to
           the
           heighth
           of
           their
           Profession
           ,
           and
           re-call
           the
           Wanderers
           ,
           and
           reduce
           the
           Strays
           into
           the
           Fold
           by
           their
           own
           convincing
           Examples
           of
           Christian
           Piety
           ;
           a
           much
           more
           commendable
           way
           of
           making
           Proselytes
           than
           the
           foremention'd
           rigid
           Arts
           of
           Conversion
           .
           And
           for
           the
           second
           great
           End
           ,
           
             the
             Governments
             Security
          
           ,
           if
           her
           Temporal
           Fences
           are
           not
           strong
           enough
           ,
           let
           her
           make
           stronger
           ;
           and
           if
           any
           of
           her
           Dissenters
           are
           the
           disturbers
           of
           her
           Peace
           ,
           let
           her
           single
           out
           the
           Guilty
           from
           the
           Innocent
           ,
           and
           wreak
           her
           just
           Vengeance
           where
           't
           is
           deserved
           ;
           and
           not
           punish
           the
           Dissent
           it self
           (
           which
           as
           being
           meer
           matter
           of
           Religion
           ,
           is
           wholly
           uncapable
           of
           such
           Crime
           )
           for
           the
           sake
           of
           any
           corrupted
           Members
           ,
           that
           either
           
             are
             of
          
           ,
           or
           
             Herd
             under
          
           the
           Covert
           of
           such
           or
           such
           a
           Congregation
           of
           Christians
           .
           For
           to
           do
           that
           work
           by
           the
           undistinguishing
           merciless
           Hand
           of
           her
           Penal
           Statutes
           ,
           is
           so
           little
           conformable
           to
           the
           Evangelical
           Precepts
           ,
           that
           I
           am
           afraid
           the
           doing
           such
           
             notorious
             Ills
          
           that
           Good
           may
           come
           of
           it
           ,
           whatever
           Religious
           Security
           ,
           or
           Gospel
           Propagation
           may
           be
           intended
           by
           them
           ;
           these
           
             Penal
             Laws
          
           ,
           I
           say
           ,
           that
           can
           swallow
           the
           
             Estates
             ,
             Fortunes
             ,
             Liberties
          
           and
           Lives
           ,
           of
           their
           weaker
           Brethren
           and
           fellow
           Christians
           ,
           instead
           of
           being
           either
           Christian
           or
           Just
           ,
           or
           any
           ways
           related
           to
           'em
           ,
           will
           at
           last
           appear
           much
           nearer
           of
           kin
           to
           that
           famous
           Rover
           that
           wanders
           round
           the
           World
           to
           seek
           whom
           he
           may
           devour
           ,
           insomuch
           that
           their
           Ordination
           will
           be
           found
           little
           less
           than
           borrowing
           Engines
           from
           Hell
           to
           help
           to
           set
           up
           Heaven
           !
        
         
         
           Now
           to
           the
           Case
           of
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           ,
           if
           these
           are
           her
           Penal
           Laws
           (
           for
           I
           shall
           not
           trouble
           my self
           with
           a
           tedious
           recital
           of
           the
           several
           Statutes
           of
           that
           nature
           ,
           as
           being
           all
           but
           Scions
           from
           the
           same
           Root
           )
           I
           should
           gladly
           know
           what
           Beauties
           or
           rather
           invisible
           Charms
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           can
           find
           in
           these
           Statutes
           to
           be
           in
           the
           least
           solicitous
           for
           their
           preservation
           .
           For
           ,
           alas
           !
           maugre
           all
           her
           Volumes
           written
           upon
           the
           Unreasonableness
           of
           Separation
           from
           her
           Communion
           ,
           and
           her
           Justification
           of
           her
           zealous
           Indeavours
           for
           Conformity
           ,
           unless
           the
           Means
           and
           Methods
           used
           to
           obtain
           it
           (
           as
           these
           Laws
           were
           intended
           for
           such
           )
           be
           equally
           Justifiable
           ,
           her
           whole
           Pretensions
           fall
           to
           the
           Ground
           .
        
         
           Nor
           will
           it
           excuse
           her
           to
           say
           ,
           that
           they
           were
           chiesly
           enacted
           
             in
             Terrorem
          
           ,
           as
           being
           but
           seldom
           put
           in
           execution
           ;
           as
           if
           a
           studied
           ill
           Deed
           were
           therefore
           more
           excusable
           because
           committed
           ,
           suppose
           but
           once
           in
           an
           Age
           ;
           when
           a
           foul
           Act
           for
           that
           very
           Cause
           ,
           should
           rather
           appear
           the
           more
           deform'd
           ,
           as
           't
           is
           the
           Rarity
           that
           makes
           the
           Monster
           .
           —
           Besides
           ,
           Queen
           Mary
           had
           that
           Plea
           to
           make
           ;
           for
           what
           were
           206
           Protestants
           even
           by
           Foxes
           Muster-Roll
           ,
           burnt
           for
           Religion
           in
           her
           five
           years
           Reign
           ,
           to
           the
           some
           millions
           of
           Protestants
           in
           those
           days
           ,
           when
           half
           the
           Kingdom
           was
           of
           that
           Persuasion
           ?
           an
           infinite
           larger
           number
           to
           cull
           out
           so
           many
           Sufferers
           from
           ,
           than
           all
           the
           Popish
           Priests
           that
           Rome
           has
           sent
           over
           these
           130
           Years
           past
           ,
           or
           shall
           do
           in
           as
           many
           more
           to
           come
           .
        
         
           To
           return
           therefore
           to
           His
           Majesties
           Proposal
           of
           Abrogating
           these
           Laws
           ,
           't
           is
           a
           greater
           Duty
           upon
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           to
           abolish
           'em
           than
           in
           the
           Dissenters
           themselves
           ;
           for
           as
           't
           is
           a
           Yoke
           imposed
           upon
           their
           weaker
           Brethren
           ,
           in
           it self
           wholly
           unjust
           ,
           the
           Sufferer
           under
           that
           Yoke
           in
           endeavouring
           
           to
           break
           it
           ,
           only
           acts
           by
           the
           Motives
           of
           Self-defence
           ,
           the
           common
           Principle
           of
           Nature
           :
           But
           the
           Imposer
           of
           that
           Yoke
           is
           tyed
           by
           the
           Obligations
           of
           Religion
           it self
           ,
           to
           repeal
           and
           repent
           his
           own
           
             Act
             of
             Injustice
          
           .
        
         
           Besides
           ,
           if
           all
           Arguments
           of
           Conscience
           cannot
           prevail
           ;
           and
           Policy
           ,
           not
           Equity
           (
           though
           Heaven
           forbid
           so
           uncharitable
           a
           Thought
           )
           is
           our
           Churches
           Guide
           ;
           yet
           ,
           even
           then
           too
           ,
           What
           do's
           she
           yield
           up
           in
           abolishing
           those
           Laws
           ?
           Why
           ,
           truly
           nothing
           .
           For
           whilst
           the
           Government
           continues
           in
           the
           Hands
           of
           a
           Prince
           of
           the
           Romish
           Religion
           ,
           those
           Statutes
           will
           utterly
           lye
           dead
           ;
           for
           the
           
             Royal
             Indulgence
          
           ,
           a
           Prerogative
           in
           the
           Crown
           ,
           will
           never
           put
           them
           in
           execution
           :
           And
           if
           abolisht
           ,
           however
           the
           next
           Protestant
           Prince
           has
           the
           power
           of
           Resumption
           ,
           if
           his
           Conscience
           shall
           think
           fit
           to
           give
           them
           a
           Resurrection
           .
           What
           reason
           therefore
           has
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           for
           her
           Nonconcurrence
           to
           a
           Proposal
           so
           equitable
           ,
           when
           she
           has
           not
           so
           much
           as
           the
           least
           Pretext
           even
           of
           meer
           Interest
           it self
           for
           her
           Refusal
           ?
        
         
           But
           this
           I
           am
           sure
           ,
           as
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           can
           have
           no
           solid
           Reasons
           to
           oppose
           their
           Repeal
           ,
           the
           State
           has
           very
           substantial
           ones
           to
           inforce
           it
           .
           For
           as
           TRADE
           is
           the
           greatest
           support
           and
           strength
           of
           a
           Kingdom
           ,
           I
           know
           no
           Politicks
           so
           conducing
           to
           the
           Commerce
           and
           Wealth
           of
           a
           Nation
           as
           
             Liberty
             of
             Conscience
          
           .
           What
           greater
           Encouragement
           to
           Naturalization
           ?
           And
           England
           that
           is
           not
           overloaded
           with
           People
           ,
           can
           have
           no
           fairer
           Inlet
           to
           bring
           in
           whole
           Families
           and
           Estates
           ,
           and
           indeed
           the
           Wealth
           of
           the
           World
           (
           besides
           the
           opening
           that
           Current
           of
           Commerce
           even
           amongst
           our
           present
           Natives
           ,
           which
           the
           late
           Restraint
           of
           Worship
           had
           so
           much
           shut
           up
           )
           than
           
             Liberty
             of
             Religion
          
           .
           Nor
           can
           I
           better
           instance
           the
           Effects
           of
           this
           Policy
           than
           in
           the
           growth
           of
           
           the
           
             Dutch
             Greatness
          
           ,
           and
           the
           decay
           of
           the
           Spaniard
           from
           their
           different
           Extreams
           of
           National
           Conduct
           in
           that
           Point
           .
        
         
           I
           am
           certain
           His
           Majesty
           resolves
           to
           eternize
           his
           Glory
           ,
           by
           being
           the
           truest
           
             Pater
             Patriae
          
           of
           all
           the
           Crown'd
           Heads
           since
           the
           Conquest
           ;
           nor
           has
           He
           a
           fairer
           Prospect
           of
           making
           His
           Kingdom
           a
           true
           Paradise
           of
           PEACE
           and
           PLENTY
           ,
           but
           by
           taking
           this
           Pattern
           at
           least
           from
           the
           
             first
             Paradise
          
           ,
           that
           is
           ,
           by
           making
           the
           Lyon
           and
           Lamb
           lye
           down
           in
           Peace
           together
           ;
           our
           long
           Disunions
           being
           no
           otherways
           to
           be
           reconciled
           ,
           and
           our
           Enmities
           husht
           but
           by
           this
           only
           
             Vniversal
             Pacification
          
           .
        
         
           I
           shall
           only
           add
           this
           last
           Consideration
           .
           The
           execution
           of
           our
           Penal
           Laws
           and
           the
           restraint
           of
           Conscience
           ,
           has
           been
           the
           greatest
           Blow
           that
           ever
           was
           given
           to
           the
           
             Hereditary
             Right
          
           of
           the
           Subjects
           of
           England
           ,
           their
           natural
           Properties
           and
           Immunities
           given
           and
           sealed
           to
           them
           by
           
             Magna
             Charta
          
           it self
           .
           For
           who
           can
           call
           his
           Liberty
           or
           Estate
           his
           own
           ,
           whilst
           a
           
             Superiour
             Opinion
          
           in
           POWER
           shall
           seize
           our
           Persons
           and
           confiscate
           our
           Estates
           ,
           for
           no
           other
           cause
           but
           difference
           of
           Worship
           and
           Faith
           ;
           and
           neither
           Person
           ,
           Estate
           or
           Liberty
           ,
           redeemable
           under
           a
           less
           Composition
           than
           
             renouncing
             of
             God
          
           ;
           for
           Conformity
           of
           Worship
           absolutely
           against
           Conscience
           is
           little
           else
           .
           And
           all
           this
           Capital
           Offence
           so
           unfixt
           and
           so
           undeterminable
           a
           sort
           of
           Transgression
           ,
           that
           a
           Man
           has
           only
           a
           meer
           Lottery
           to
           be
           in
           the
           Right
           or
           the
           Wrong
           :
           For
           the
           blackest
           Criminal
           in
           one
           Reign
           has
           been
           the
           whitest
           Saint
           in
           the
           next
           ,
           and
           so
           
             vice
             versâ
          
           over
           again
           ,
           witness
           the
           Reigns
           of
           Edward
           the
           Sixth
           ,
           Queen
           Mary
           and
           Queen
           Elizabeth
           ,
           where
           the
           Protestants
           were
           the
           Devils
           one
           while
           and
           the
           Papists
           another
           :
           Nay
           ,
           in
           the
           Reign
           of
           Henry
           the
           Eighth
           ,
           both
           Papist
           and
           Protestant
           were
           at
           
             one
             time
          
           in
           the
           wrong
           :
           
           For
           't
           was
           remarkable
           in
           his
           Reign
           ,
           that
           in
           the
           same
           day
           have
           Papists
           been
           hanged
           for
           Traytors
           ,
           for
           disowning
           his
           
             Church
             Supremacy
          
           ;
           and
           Protestants
           burnt
           for
           Hereticks
           for
           denying
           of
           Transubstantiation
           .
           Thus
           in
           their
           turns
           have
           all
           Religions
           and
           Opinions
           lain
           under
           the
           Scourge
           of
           the
           severest
           of
           Laws
           ,
           and
           all
           for
           want
           of
           that
           Obedience
           to
           
             a
             Law
          
           ,
           which
           Humanity
           it self
           is
           utterly
           unable
           to
           pay
           .
           For
           though
           our
           Breach
           or
           not
           Breach
           of
           all
           other
           Laws
           ,
           either
           Humane
           or
           Divine
           ,
           lyes
           in
           our
           own
           free
           will
           and
           choice
           :
           To
           conform
           or
           not
           conform
           to
           this
           or
           that
           Belief
           ,
           is
           wholly
           above
           the
           power
           of
           Man
           ;
           
             Faith
             only
             being
             Irresistible
          
           .
           And
           if
           our
           worldly
           Well-being
           ,
           and
           all
           we
           enjoy
           in
           this
           Life
           ,
           depends
           upon
           such
           
             caprichious
             Decrees
          
           of
           Law
           ,
           certainly
           the
           Great
           Charter
           of
           our
           Liberties
           and
           Estates
           that
           confirm'd
           'em
           both
           under
           no
           such
           Condition
           or
           Restriction
           ,
           is
           not
           a
           little
           invaded
           by
           the
           Penalties
           of
           such
           Laws
           :
           And
           I
           cannot
           tell
           what
           greater
           or
           more
           glorious
           Design
           His
           Gracious
           Majesty
           can
           undertake
           ,
           than
           by
           repairing
           so
           deep
           a
           Breach
           wrought
           through
           the
           very
           Fundamentals
           of
           his
           Peoples
           
             original
             Freedom
          
           and
           Birthrights
           :
           Nor
           is
           there
           ,
           or
           has
           been
           a
           greater
           Friend
           or
           Patron
           of
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           than
           His
           present
           Majesty
           ,
           who
           himself
           alone
           tenders
           Her
           the
           Means
           and
           Opportunity
           to
           wash
           off
           those
           long
           Stains
           and
           Blots
           ,
           which
           either
           the
           petulance
           or
           remissness
           of
           Her
           Protestant
           
             Defenders
             of
             Her
             Faith
          
           ,
           through
           these
           Penal
           Statutes
           have
           cast
           or
           left
           upon
           Her
           ,
           and
           so
           to
           restore
           Her
           to
           Whiteness
           and
           Innocence
           .
        
         
           Having
           made
           this
           fair
           Inquest
           into
           the
           
             Penal
             Laws
          
           ,
           I
           shall
           take
           a
           little
           Search
           too
           into
           the
           TEST
           ,
           and
           lay
           down
           those
           Reasons
           that
           equally
           oblige
           us
           to
           concur
           with
           His
           Majesty
           in
           a
           Repeal
           of
           that
           too
           .
        
         
         
           
             In
             order
             to
             which
             ,
             it
             behoves
             us
             first
             to
             sum
             up
             all
             the
             great
             and
             popular
             Arguments
             (
             if
             I
             may
             so
             call
             'em
             ,
             tho
             in
             reality
             rather
             the
             Language
             of
          
           Fears
           and
           Jealousies
           
             than
             the
             Voice
             of
          
           right
           Reason
           )
           
             daily
             urged
             for
             the
             Preservation
             of
             the
          
           Test
           ,
           viz.
           That
           the
           whole
           Defence
           of
           the
           Protestant
           Religion
           relyes
           on
           that
           Basis
           .
           If
           the
           Test
           were
           once
           abrogated
           ,
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           would
           soon
           be
           blown
           up
           ,
           when
           all
           Offices
           both
           Ecclesiastical
           and
           Civil
           ,
           and
           all
           Power
           and
           Authority
           both
           in
           Church
           and
           State
           shall
           be
           lodged
           in
           
             Roman
             Catholick
          
           Hands
           ;
           and
           what
           not
           ?
        
         
           To
           answer
           which
           hideous
           and
           formidable
           Outcry
           ,
           we
           'll
           begin
           first
           with
           the
           pretended
           Dangers
           threaten'd
           the
           
             Church
             of
             England
          
           by
           Repeal
           of
           the
           Test
           .
           Not
           to
           insist
           upon
           His
           Majesties
           reiterated
           WORD
           and
           HONOVR
           ,
           His
           inviolable
           Engagements
           to
           maintain
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           as
           now
           by
           Law
           establisht
           ,
           in
           her
           uninterrupted
           Rights
           and
           Priviledges
           ,
           all
           her
           Churches
           and
           Church-livings
           whatever
           thereunto
           belonging
           ,
           &c.
           in
           it self
           alone
           no
           little
           Security
           .
           But
           waving
           that
           Plea
           ,
           the
           Ecclesiastical
           Government
           and
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           neither
           are
           ,
           nor
           can
           be
           shaken
           or
           toucht
           by
           the
           Abrogation
           of
           the
           Test
           ,
           the
           Test
           being
           indeed
           no
           part
           of
           her
           Defence
           .
           For
           first
           ,
           the
           very
           taking
           of
           the
           Test
           ,
           is
           no
           part
           of
           the
           Qualification
           of
           any
           of
           the
           Clergy
           of
           England
           ,
           nor
           was
           ever
           so
           much
           as
           mention'd
           or
           thought
           upon
           to
           be
           imposed
           or
           tender'd
           to
           the
           Clergy
           :
           No
           ;
           as
           jealous
           as
           the
           Founders
           of
           that
           Test
           were
           (
           or
           pretended
           to
           be
           )
           of
           the
           Danger
           of
           Popery
           ,
           and
           as
           zealous
           as
           they
           could
           be
           for
           the
           Security
           of
           the
           Protestant
           Religion
           ,
           they
           very
           well
           knew
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           had
           two
           
             impregnable
             Bulwarks
          
           ,
           the
           two
           great
           Acts
           of
           VNIFORMITY
           that
           themselves
           alone
           sufficiently
           establisht
           ,
           guarded
           ,
           and
           preserved
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           in
           all
           Points
           without
           any
           Fortification
           
           from
           the
           Test
           ;
           nor
           indeed
           was
           the
           Test
           wanted
           in
           the
           Ecclesiastick
           Administration
           ,
           those
           very
           Statutes
           being
           a
           greater
           and
           stronger
           Test
           before
           :
           For
           by
           those
           Statutes
           is
           the
           whole
           Liturgy
           ,
           the
           Administration
           of
           the
           Sacraments
           ,
           and
           indeed
           all
           the
           Canons
           and
           Articles
           of
           the
           Church
           supported
           :
           For
           by
           the
           Fence
           of
           those
           Laws
           ,
           first
           ,
           no
           Romanist
           can
           possibly
           be
           admitted
           into
           the
           Clergy
           unless
           under
           the
           most
           damnable
           Hypocrisie
           (
           which
           no
           Human
           Test
           can
           discover
           )
           an
           Hypocrisie
           too
           no
           ways
           beneficial
           to
           the
           Romish
           Cause
           whilst
           tyed
           up
           to
           the
           Divine
           Service
           as
           now
           by
           Law
           establisht
           .
           Secondly
           ,
           No
           other
           Divine
           Service
           ,
           as
           the
           Mass
           ,
           or
           the
           like
           ,
           can
           be
           introduced
           into
           our
           Churches
           already
           constituted
           or
           assigned
           for
           the
           Divine
           Service
           of
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           .
        
         
           The
           strength
           of
           these
           two
           Laws
           His
           Majesty
           very
           well
           knows
           ,
           and
           is
           so
           far
           even
           from
           the
           Thought
           of
           hurting
           or
           infringing
           the
           least
           Particle
           of
           either
           of
           those
           Laws
           ,
           or
           the
           Security
           our
           Church
           
             has
             ,
             do's
          
           ,
           or
           can
           receive
           from
           them
           ,
           by
           abrogating
           any
           Penal
           Laws
           or
           Tests
           whatever
           ,
           that
           on
           the
           contrary
           there
           is
           not
           undoubtedly
           that
           farther
           Confirmation
           of
           those
           Laws
           ,
           and
           the
           
             Religious
             Observance
          
           of
           them
           ,
           or
           any
           thing
           conducing
           thereunto
           ,
           that
           may
           or
           shall
           be
           offer'd
           to
           His
           Majesty
           in
           Parliament
           ,
           that
           His
           Majesty
           shall
           not
           
             readily
             assent
          
           to
           ,
           and
           as
           
             inviolably
             maintain
          
           .
        
         
           If
           then
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           ,
           Her
           Administration
           and
           Government
           (
           as
           't
           is
           plain
           )
           stand
           of
           themselves
           alone
           secure
           and
           firm
           ,
           without
           any
           borrow'd
           Prop
           or
           Support
           from
           the
           Test
           whatever
           ;
           the
           Test
           therefore
           is
           only
           a
           Buttrice
           (
           or
           at
           least
           so
           intended
           )
           to
           the
           Civil
           Magistracy
           ;
           as
           first
           ,
           
             Excluding
             all
          
           Roman
           Catholicks
           
             from
             all
             Offices
             of
             Trust
             in
             the
             State.
          
           Secondly
           ,
           
             From
             all
             Domestick
             Services
             near
             the
             Person
             of
             the
             King.
          
           And
           Thirdly
           ,
           
             From
             all
             Right
             to
             Session
             in
             Parliament
             .
          
        
         
         
           These
           three
           Incapacities
           are
           by
           the
           Test
           thrown
           upon
           the
           Romanists
           .
           And
           for
           confuting
           all
           Suspicions
           and
           Jealousies
           ,
           let
           us
           examine
           how
           the
           loosening
           of
           all
           these
           three
           Restrictions
           can
           ●end
           to
           the
           Subversion
           of
           the
           Protestant
           Religion
           as
           now
           by
           Law
           establisht
           .
        
         
           In
           the
           first
           place
           ,
           as
           to
           the
           Civil
           Government
           :
           What
           Office
           in
           the
           State
           can
           a
           
             Roman
             Catholick
          
           hold
           ,
           any
           ways
           empowering
           him
           to
           prejudice
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           ?
           Suppose
           even
           in
           the
           
             Courts
             of
             Judicature
          
           (
           for
           if
           any
           Apparition
           of
           any
           such
           Power
           ,
           't
           is
           there
           ;
           )
           Were
           Romanists
           (
           imagine
           )
           in
           all
           those
           Offices
           ?
           Why
           may
           not
           a
           Sir
           
             Thomas
             Moor
          
           be
           as
           honest
           as
           a
           
             Lord
             Chief
             Justice
             Hales
          
           ,
           and
           execute
           his
           Office
           with
           as
           great
           Integrity
           and
           Justice
           ?
           Why
           not
           Men
           of
           equal
           Abilities
           be
           of
           equal
           Uprightness
           in
           all
           Religions
           ?
           Besides
           ,
           the
           Distribution
           of
           Meum
           and
           Tuum
           (
           more
           especially
           when
           Liberty
           of
           Conscience
           shall
           be
           past
           into
           a
           perpetual
           Law
           ,
           and
           all
           Penal
           Inflictions
           for
           matter
           of
           Religion
           thrown
           out
           of
           their
           Jurisdictions
           )
           will
           then
           be
           the
           whole
           Business
           that
           lyes
           before
           them
           ;
           and
           wherein
           is
           a
           
             Roman
             Catholick
          
           Judge
           any
           more
           incapacitated
           for
           the
           administring
           of
           Justice
           than
           another
           Man
           ?
           Moreover
           ,
           in
           a
           Kingdom
           where
           their
           number
           is
           so
           truly
           inconsiderable
           ,
           as
           scarce
           the
           Two
           hundredth
           Man
           in
           the
           Nation
           ,
           if
           they
           have
           hopes
           of
           making
           any
           Converts
           or
           any
           Indeavours
           that
           way
           ,
           it
           can
           only
           be
           done
           by
           holding
           the
           Scale
           of
           Justice
           upright
           ,
           and
           in
           all
           Posts
           of
           Trust
           by
           keeping
           up
           the
           steddiest
           Standard
           of
           Right
           and
           Equity
           ,
           as
           the
           only
           means
           thereby
           to
           recommend
           and
           endear
           themselves
           to
           the
           World
           ,
           and
           wipe
           off
           those
           Blemishes
           that
           the
           
             mistaken
             Jealousies
          
           and
           
             Popular
             Misapprehensions
          
           have
           so
           long
           so
           unkindly
           cast
           upon
           them
           .
           And
           This
           ,
           and
           This
           only
           they
           are
           very
           sensible
           is
           their
           Chart
           to
           steer
           by
           ;
           and
           their
           Great
           Pilot
           ,
           their
           Royal
           Master
           ,
           the
           best
           read
           Student
           
           in
           the
           Arts
           of
           Empire
           that
           possibly
           ever
           graced
           a
           Throne
           ,
           equally
           knows
           to
           be
           His
           only
           Course
           ,
           and
           undoubtedly
           as
           sacredly
           resolves
           to
           make
           it
           so
           .
           And
           if
           the
           Judges
           of
           the
           Land
           suppose
           of
           the
           Romish
           Religion
           (
           besides
           their
           Oaths
           that
           bind
           'em
           ,
           and
           His
           Majesties
           Honour
           that
           shall
           influence
           them
           to
           it
           )
           have
           these
           Obligations
           more
           and
           above
           even
           of
           INTEREST
           to
           their
           very
           Religion
           it self
           ,
           to
           move
           in
           so
           regular
           a
           Sphear
           of
           Justice
           ,
           where
           lyes
           our
           Danger
           ?
           And
           if
           this
           higher
           Station
           will
           be
           so
           Inoffensive
           ,
           what
           can
           the
           poorer
           Justices
           of
           the
           Peace
           ,
           or
           the
           inferiour
           Subministration
           of
           the
           Government
           signifie
           ,
           in
           Popish
           or
           not
           Popish
           Hands
           ?
        
         
           
             But
             in
             this
             Case
             I
             have
             heard
             some
             People
             say
             :
          
           Alas
           !
           What
           stretch
           of
           the
           Laws
           will
           not
           such
           Judges
           make
           ?
           Perhaps
           for
           instance
           ,
           pick
           a
           hole
           in
           the
           Abby-Lands
           ,
           and
           start
           some
           dormient
           Title
           or
           other
           to
           revert
           them
           to
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           ;
           a
           Patrimony
           that
           will
           not
           a
           little
           enrich
           the
           Romanists
           and
           advance
           their
           Cause
           .
        
         
           This
           idle
           Objection
           was
           scarce
           worth
           naming
           ;
           as
           if
           the
           stretching
           of
           our
           Laws
           in
           that
           Point
           was
           not
           as
           notorious
           and
           Arbitrary
           as
           a
           total
           Violation
           of
           the
           Subjects
           Right
           ,
           and
           rending
           the
           whole
           Frame
           of
           the
           Laws
           in
           sunder
           .
           But
           to
           check
           this
           idle
           Surmize
           ;
           If
           a
           Romish
           Parliament
           it self
           in
           the
           Reign
           of
           Queen
           Mary
           ,
           with
           the
           very
           Restoration
           of
           the
           Romish
           Religion
           and
           
             Papal
             Supremacy
          
           into
           the
           Saddle
           ,
           never
           so
           much
           as
           attempted
           to
           revert
           those
           Lands
           :
           Nay
           ,
           on
           the
           contrary
           ,
           their
           whole
           Title
           was
           confirm'd
           to
           the
           present
           Possessours
           by
           a
           Decretal
           from
           Rome
           it self
           ,
           as
           was
           then
           so
           solemnly
           done
           by
           Cardinal
           Pool
           ,
           the
           then
           Popes
           Legate
           :
           How
           groundless
           must
           the
           Fear
           be
           of
           any
           Thought
           or
           Attempt
           of
           reverting
           them
           now
           ?
           Or
           why
           must
           the
           Romish
           
           Judges
           in
           any
           kind
           subvert
           or
           undermine
           the
           Laws
           ,
           contrary
           to
           all
           their
           best
           Politiques
           in
           the
           present
           State
           of
           England
           ,
           to
           no
           true
           advantage
           either
           to
           themselves
           or
           their
           Church
           ,
           and
           possibly
           to
           be
           answerable
           for
           it
           with
           their
           Heads
           ,
           if
           they
           live
           to
           the
           next
           Protestant
           Prince
           .
        
         
           To
           come
           next
           
             to
             the
             Officers
             of
             his
             Majesties
             Houshold
             ,
          
           &c.
           
           To
           have
           those
           Posts
           too
           barricado'd
           with
           Tests
           ,
           and
           the
           Imperial
           Dignity
           so
           shackled
           ,
           as
           to
           be
           debarr'd
           the
           Choice
           of
           its
           own
           Menials
           ;
           nay
           ,
           even
           of
           its
           Conversation
           it self
           ,
           is
           an
           Insolence
           put
           upon
           Majesty
           ,
           as
           had
           been
           scarce
           tolerable
           from
           an
           Ordinance
           of
           Forty
           eight
           ,
           much
           less
           an
           Act
           of
           Parliament
           .
           But
           for
           our
           less
           Wonder
           at
           it
           ,
           we
           are
           to
           consider
           't
           was
           Hatch'd
           in
           the
           same
           
             Republick
             Nest
          
           :
           for
           no
           less
           than
           the
           great
           old
           Patriot
           of
           
             Three
             Names
          
           sate
           for
           the
           brooding
           of
           it
           .
        
         
           I
           think
           I
           need
           not
           raise
           Arguments
           to
           prove
           how
           little
           those
           Gentlemen
           of
           Honour
           ,
           the
           Courtiers
           I
           mean
           ,
           of
           any
           Religion
           whatsoever
           ,
           in
           that
           innocent
           Station
           are
           ,
           or
           can
           be
           concerned
           in
           shaking
           either
           Church
           or
           State.
           It
           is
           enough
           to
           say
           that
           greater
           Indignity
           under
           the
           Sanction
           of
           a
           Law
           ,
           was
           never
           impos'd
           upon
           a
           Crown'd
           Head.
           The
           meanest
           Gentleman
           in
           England
           ,
           whilst
           this
           Test
           keeps
           Footing
           ,
           has
           a
           Prerogative
           above
           the
           King.
           For
           the
           choice
           of
           his
           Steward
           ,
           Bayliff
           ,
           Attorney
           ,
           or
           Solicitor
           ,
           &c.
           are
           in
           his
           own
           free
           Election
           :
           But
           these
           were
           Priviledges
           thought
           too
           large
           for
           a
           King
           ;
           and
           therefore
           he
           is
           Stinted
           and
           Bounded
           to
           such
           Elections
           ,
           as
           the
           more
           Imperial
           Wisdom
           of
           His
           
             Great
             Masters
          
           in
           Parliament
           judge
           fittest
           for
           him
           .
        
         
           Monarchical
           Rule
           is
           said
           to
           be
           like
           that
           of
           Heaven
           ,
           where
           the
           
             Primum
             Mobile
          
           acts
           altogether
           by
           
             inferior
             Sphears
          
           ,
           and
           
             second
             Causes
          
           .
           And
           so
           Majesty
           by
           its
           Officers
           and
           Ministers
           ,
           as
           so
           many
           Vehicles
           ,
           by
           which
           the
           Influences
           of
           the
           Royal
           Power
           are
           Convey'd
           ,
           to
           set
           the
           Great
           Machine
           a
           moving
           :
           But
           truly
           this
           Ascendancy
           the
           late
           Law-makers
           ,
           
           judged
           too
           great
           for
           the
           King
           of
           England
           ;
           and
           therefore
           they
           found
           an
           Expedient
           to
           render
           the
           Monarchy
           little
           more
           than
           precarious
           ,
           making
           the
           whole
           Ministers
           of
           the
           State
           the
           Creatures
           of
           the
           Test
           ,
           and
           not
           of
           the
           King.
           
        
         
           Now
           I
           desire
           to
           know
           how
           in
           Reason
           we
           can
           imagine
           ,
           that
           a
           King
           ,
           in
           himself
           the
           Fountain
           of
           Honour
           ,
           and
           Original
           of
           Power
           ;
           though
           in
           his
           Nature
           ,
           the
           Mildest
           and
           best
           Temper'd
           of
           Princes
           ;
           though
           without
           the
           least
           Thought
           of
           Unhinging
           the
           Frame
           of
           the
           Government
           ,
           or
           Disturbing
           the
           Settled
           Church
           of
           his
           Kingdom
           ;
           to
           blast
           his
           own
           Glory
           ,
           and
           lose
           his
           Subjects
           Hearts
           ;
           (
           for
           that
           would
           be
           all
           the
           Crop
           't
           would
           yield
           him
           ;
           )
           I
           wonder
           I
           say
           how
           we
           can
           imagine
           ,
           that
           the
           Best
           and
           most
           Gracious
           of
           Princes
           ,
           tho
           without
           the
           foremention'd
           Designs
           ,
           could
           nevertheless
           brook
           so
           
             Vnprincely
             a
             Yoke
          
           as
           the
           Test
           .
           —
           And
           truly
           to
           justifie
           his
           Majesties
           heartiest
           Endeavours
           against
           both
           Penal
           Laws
           and
           Test
           ,
           in
           not
           labouring
           to
           abrogate
           the
           first
           ,
           as
           they
           stand
           in
           Force
           against
           the
           Lives
           and
           Liberties
           ,
           (
           and
           how
           unjustly
           has
           been
           proved
           before
           )
           of
           the
           Members
           of
           his
           own
           Communion
           ,
           he
           would
           be
           the
           most
           unnatural
           of
           Men
           ;
           and
           in
           not
           labouring
           to
           repeal
           the
           last
           ,
           as
           standing
           so
           egregiously
           in
           force
           against
           the
           Right
           and
           Prerogative
           of
           His
           Crown
           ,
           and
           indeed
           originally
           forged
           in
           Affront
           to
           himself
           ,
           he
           should
           be
           the
           most
           Dishonourable
           of
           Princes
           :
           Nor
           will
           it
           serve
           to
           object
           ,
           that
           His
           late
           Majesty
           (
           whatever
           diminution
           to
           the
           Prerogative
           it
           might
           be
           )
           by
           passing
           it
           into
           a
           Law
           ,
           has
           alienated
           that
           Power
           from
           the
           Crown
           .
           For
           to
           answer
           that
           Argument
           ,
           we
           are
           assured
           ,
           that
           whatever
           Alienations
           of
           that
           kind
           the
           Easiness
           of
           the
           present
           Possessour
           of
           the
           Crown
           ,
           or
           any
           other
           Reasons
           may
           induce
           him
           to
           make
           ,
           are
           no
           ways
           truly
           binding
           to
           the
           Successor
           .
        
         
           Now
           to
           come
           to
           the
           last
           Point
           ,
           the
           Qualification
           of
           Members
           in
           Parliament
           by
           the
           Test
           :
           And
           first
           ,
           I
           shall
           not
           so
           much
           
           insist
           upon
           the
           notorious
           Invasion
           of
           the
           Birthright
           of
           the
           Peers
           by
           this
           Exclusion
           from
           Parliament
           ,
           as
           being
           a
           Point
           already
           so
           well
           handled
           by
           better
           Pens
           ,
           and
           never
           yet
           answered
           ;
           nor
           shall
           I
           so
           much
           insist
           upon
           the
           Illegality
           and
           Vnreasonableness
           of
           Tests
           in
           general
           of
           any
           kind
           ,
           as
           was
           once
           argued
           in
           Parliament
           by
           the
           Lord
           Delamere
           in
           opposition
           to
           a
           Test
           proposed
           by
           the
           Earl
           of
           Lindsey
           ,
           a
           Test
           ,
           which
           (
           though
           not
           thought
           legal
           to
           be
           imposed
           as
           such
           )
           contain'd
           no
           other
           than
           the
           highest
           Obligations
           of
           Loyalty
           that
           every
           Subject
           owes
           to
           his
           Prince
           .
           But
           if
           the
           making
           of
           Tests
           in
           Parliament
           ,
           which
           with
           the
           Sovereign
           Consent
           (
           as
           Kings
           are
           but
           Men
           ,
           and
           sometimes
           the
           Exigence
           of
           Affairs
           ,
           may
           extort
           the
           Royal
           Fiat
           )
           lyes
           in
           the
           Majority
           so
           to
           do
           :
           Suppose
           the
           Forgers
           of
           this
           Test
           (
           for
           by
           the
           by
           they
           were
           none
           of
           the
           best
           Friends
           of
           the
           Church
           as
           now
           by
           Law
           establisht
           )
           had
           follow'd
           their
           Blow
           ,
           and
           form'd
           a
           second
           Test
           to
           deny
           Episcopacy
           to
           be
           
             Jure
             divino
          
           ;
           a
           Dispute
           much
           bandyed
           in
           those
           days
           :
           Here
           had
           the
           Bishops
           been
           thrown
           out
           of
           the
           Parliament
           ,
           if
           not
           the
           whole
           Hierarchy
           out
           of
           the
           Kingdom
           .
           And
           so
           by
           Tests
           
             ad
             Infinitum
          
           ,
           how
           might
           the
           Basis
           of
           the
           whole
           Government
           been
           overturned
           ,
           and
           the
           very
           Houses
           of
           Parliament
           dwindled
           at
           last
           ,
           to
           the
           scandalous
           Dimensions
           of
           the
           old
           fashion'd
           Rump
           .
           For
           if
           one
           Test
           to
           exclude
           a
           Score
           ,
           why
           not
           another
           to
           lop
           off
           a
           hundred
           ?
           And
           indeed
           ,
           how
           are
           our
           present
           Parliaments
           the
           
             comprehensive
             Body
          
           of
           the
           Nation
           ,
           when
           so
           many
           of
           the
           Peers
           ,
           not
           there
           by
           Representatives
           ,
           are
           shut
           out
           ?
           Nay
           ,
           how
           much
           is
           the
           Dignity
           of
           the
           Laws
           they
           make
           ,
           and
           the
           very
           Constitution
           of
           our
           later
           Parliaments
           themselves
           impair'd
           and
           lessen'd
           by
           such
           an
           Exclusion
           ?
        
         
           But
           to
           come
           to
           the
           main
           Business
           ,
           viz.
           to
           obviate
           the
           greatest
           and
           terriblest
           Clamour
           of
           Fear
           and
           Jealousie
           against
           the
           Repeal
           of
           the
           Test
           ,
           
             viz.
             If
             the
             Test
             were
             destroy'd
             ,
             who
             knows
             but
             Parliaments
             may
             be
             so
             managed
             as
             to
             turn
             out
             the
             Church
             of
          
           England
           ,
           
             and
             set
             up
             Popery
             even
             by
             Law
             it self
             ?
          
        
         
         
           This
           indeed
           is
           the
           Gorgon
           ,
           that
           frights
           half
           Man-kind
           out
           of
           their
           little
           Senses
           .
           But
           where
           ,
           or
           how
           is
           this
           Popish
           Parliament
           to
           be
           gotten
           ,
           (
           for
           a
           Protestant
           one
           will
           hardly
           be
           so
           Complaisant
           :
           )
           But
           to
           search
           out
           every
           Cranny
           that
           this
           imaginary
           Danger
           is
           supposed
           to
           creep
           in
           at
           ,
           Let
           us
           examine
           the
           
             House
             of
             Lords
          
           ,
           and
           try
           their
           Inclinations
           that
           way
           .
        
         
           If
           the
           Test
           were
           laid
           aside
           ,
           and
           the
           excluded
           Lords
           restored
           ;
           what
           would
           their
           Number
           signifie
           !
           At
           out
           last
           Parliament
           ,
           the
           Protestant
           Peers
           amounted
           to
           160
           ,
           and
           the
           excluded
           Romish
           Barons
           (
           nor
           are
           they
           much
           increased
           since
           )
           were
           not
           a
           Tenth
           of
           their
           Number
           .
           So
           that
           here
           's
           an
           absolute
           want
           of
           a
           Prodigious
           Creation
           of
           Romish
           Barons
           to
           rise
           to
           a
           Majority
           ;
           Nay
           ,
           and
           of
           so
           many
           Estates
           too
           ,
           to
           support
           the
           Grandure
           ,
           as
           possibly
           would
           stagger
           imagination
           it self
           to
           find
           a
           Treasure
           ,
           enough
           to
           purchase
           :
           for
           so
           many
           
             New
             Dignifications
          
           ,
           especially
           of
           Gentry
           ,
           or
           
             Landed
             Men
          
           to
           start
           up
           Lords
           ,
           among
           so
           thin
           sown
           a
           Party
           ,
           would
           put
           'em
           damnable
           hard
           to
           it
           .
           But
           for
           once
           ,
           grant
           such
           an
           Extravagant
           Donation
           of
           Honour
           ,
           and
           such
           
             Goldeu
             Mines
          
           to
           maintain
           it
           ,
           might
           form
           a
           House
           of
           Lords
           capable
           of
           over-ballancing
           on
           the
           Popish
           side
           ;
           where
           shall
           the
           
             House
             of
             Commons
          
           be
           had
           ?
           for
           without
           both
           they
           do
           nothing
           !
           They
           would
           go
           nigh
           to
           find
           such
           a
           
             Dead
             Weight
          
           in
           the
           Lower
           House
           ,
           as
           all
           the
           Tuggs
           of
           Rome
           would
           never
           be
           able
           to
           stirr
           ;
           and
           this
           stupendious
           Parliamentary
           Subversion
           of
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           a
           Phoenomenon
           only
           in
           Nubibus
           .
        
         
           A
           Popish
           House
           of
           Commons
           too
           !
           
             Alas
             ,
             they
             'll
             tell
             you
          
           ,
           very
           easily
           .
           Has
           not
           the
           King
           for
           instance
           ,
           got
           a
           new
           way
           of
           Regulating
           Corporations
           ,
           Nay
           ,
           has
           he
           not
           (
           or
           will
           do
           before
           next
           Sessions
           )
           already
           Modell'd
           all
           their
           Charters
           ,
           and
           undoubtedly
           left
           few
           or
           none
           ,
           either
           Citizens
           ,
           Burghers
           or
           Free-men
           ,
           in
           whom
           the
           Election
           lies
           ,
           but
           such
           as
           are
           his
           Friends
           and
           Creatures
           .
        
         
         
           Very
           Well
           :
           Suppose
           he
           has
           ,
           or
           will
           take
           Care
           ,
           to
           the
           best
           of
           his
           Endeavour
           or
           Power
           ,
           to
           Establish
           Corporation
           to
           his
           own
           
             Hearts
             liking
          
           :
           After
           all
           ,
           where
           shall
           there
           be
           One
           Roman
           Catholique
           in
           all
           the
           next
           Election
           ;
           and
           what
           shall
           these
           Creatures
           ,
           (
           if
           you
           'll
           have
           'em
           so
           )
           do
           more
           than
           Choose
           every
           Numerical
           Member
           a
           Protestant
           :
           For
           till
           the
           Test
           be
           Legally
           dissolved
           ,
           they
           must
           all
           be
           so
           .
           And
           truly
           what
           if
           this
           next
           ,
           tho'
           Protestant
           Parliament
           ,
           out
           of
           an
           Abhorrence
           of
           the
           
             Vnchristian
             Barbarity
          
           of
           the
           
             Penall
             Laws
          
           ,
           shall
           do
           themselves
           ,
           their
           Posterity
           ,
           their
           Country
           ,
           and
           His
           Majestie
           Justice
           in
           dissolving
           them
           ?
           And
           what
           if
           likewise
           their
           true
           Sense
           of
           the
           most
           servile
           Imposition
           that
           Imperial
           Dignity
           ever
           bore
           ,
           their
           Tenderness
           for
           His
           Majesties
           Honour
           and
           Prerogative
           ,
           together
           with
           their
           Gratitude
           ,
           for
           the
           Plenty
           and
           Peace
           His
           Reign
           has
           Bless'd
           them
           with
           ,
           shall
           incline
           them
           also
           ,
           to
           break
           those
           Fetters
           of
           the
           Crown
           ,
           the
           Test
           ;
           and
           all
           no
           more
           than
           High-Justice
           and
           
             Right
             Reason
          
           shall
           oblige
           them
           to
           ;
           Must
           it
           therefore
           follow
           ,
           that
           they
           shall
           do
           themselves
           ,
           their
           Families
           ,
           their
           yet
           unborn
           Heirs
           ,
           and
           their
           no
           less
           Concern
           their
           Country
           that
           Wrong
           ,
           as
           to
           give
           up
           their
           tenderest
           and
           nearest
           Care
           ,
           their
           Religion
           ;
           or
           any
           thing
           tending
           to
           it
           !
        
         
           Well
           ,
           
             but
             say
             they
          
           ,
           if
           this
           next
           Parliament
           will
           not
           do
           the
           Work
           ;
           when
           the
           Test
           is
           once
           gon
           ;
           't
           is
           but
           calling
           new
           Popish
           ones
           that
           will.
           
        
         
           I
           ,
           but
           who
           shall
           choose
           them
           ?
           The
           Electors
           are
           all
           the
           same
           :
           For
           the
           Corporations
           are
           ,
           or
           will
           be
           settled
           to
           his
           own
           Model
           :
           and
           Test
           or
           no
           Test
           in
           Being
           ,
           their
           Inclinations
           will
           be
           all
           the
           same
           ;
           and
           upon
           any
           New
           Choice
           ,
           beyond
           all
           Dispute
           ,
           the
           Majoritie
           of
           the
           
             Old
             Members
          
           Elected
           again
           ;
           and
           if
           any
           
             New
             Ones
          
           amongst
           them
           ,
           those
           too
           as
           far
           from
           leaning
           towards
           Rome
           ,
           as
           the
           Popular
           Frantick
           Jealousies
           are
           from
           
             Common
             Sense
          
           .
        
         
         
           Upon
           the
           upshot
           ,
           I
           defie
           all
           Mankind
           to
           form
           one
           Reasonable
           Projection
           ,
           or
           indeed
           ,
           imaginary
           possibility
           of
           such
           a
           Popish
           Parliament
           .
           For
           instance
           we
           must
           run
           into
           endless
           Labyrinths
           and
           Chimaeras
           ,
           for
           the
           meer
           Shadow
           of
           such
           a
           Danger
           .
           For
           first
           the
           King
           must
           dissolve
           all
           his
           late
           Charters
           again
           ;
           no
           matter
           whether
           forfeited
           or
           not
           ;
           and
           so
           throw
           Dirt
           in
           the
           Face
           of
           his
           own
           yesterdays
           Royal
           Acts
           and
           Grants
           :
           For
           all
           the
           
             Free-men
             ,
             Burggers
          
           ,
           or
           Aldermen
           ,
           and
           whatever
           the
           present
           Electors
           ,
           and
           consequently
           all
           the
           
             Trading
             Part
          
           of
           the
           Nation
           ,
           must
           be
           displaced
           and
           cashierd
           ,
           (
           a
           very
           Violent
           Reform
           ,
           and
           an
           ingratitude
           ,
           which
           His
           Majesties
           Nature
           abhors
           ,
           to
           those
           very
           Men
           ,
           that
           by
           rescinding
           the
           
             Penall
             Laws
          
           and
           Test
           shall
           have
           Duty
           fully
           given
           him
           all
           he
           could
           ask
           :
           )
           And
           a
           new
           set
           of
           Romans
           planted
           in
           their
           Rooms
           ;
           or
           otherwise
           ,
           if
           the
           present
           Electors
           continue
           in
           their
           Posts
           ,
           a
           Majority
           of
           Papists
           must
           be
           crowded
           in
           to
           over
           Vote
           them
           :
           But
           where
           to
           be
           had
           ,
           let
           Machiavil
           himself
           inform
           us
           .
           For
           alas
           ,
           where
           are
           these
           
             Popish
             Vpstarts
          
           to
           be
           found
           .
           Not
           amongst
           the
           present
           Inhabitants
           of
           the
           Corporations
           :
           For
           how
           many
           Corporations
           are
           there
           in
           England
           ,
           that
           have
           not
           so
           much
           as
           one
           Man
           amongst
           them
           of
           that
           Religion
           .
           Nay
           ,
           take
           some
           parts
           of
           England
           ,
           as
           the
           West
           for
           Example
           ,
           where
           Corporations
           stand
           Thickest
           ,
           and
           Papists
           grow
           Thinnest
           ,
           and
           you
           shall
           not
           find
           in
           whole
           Counties
           the
           Hundredth
           (
           Nay
           ,
           if
           I
           trebled
           it
           ,
           I
           should
           not
           mistake
           .
           )
           Part
           of
           Papists
           ,
           of
           all
           Degrees
           whatever
           ,
           to
           supply
           such
           a
           Corporation
           Majority
           of
           Electors
           ,
           or
           any
           thing
           like
           it
           .
           And
           indeed
           ,
           take
           the
           whole
           Nation
           round
           ,
           and
           make
           every
           Romanist
           that
           Writes
           the
           Age
           of
           Man
           an
           Alderman
           ,
           they
           shall
           fall
           so
           short
           still
           of
           the
           Account
           ,
           that
           they
           must
           be
           forced
           to
           send
           over
           for
           
             Jago
             Pilgrims
          
           ,
           (
           a
           good
           jolly
           Troop
           too
           )
           or
           some
           other
           ,
           as
           Extravagant
           
           Helps
           to
           make
           out
           the
           Number
           ,
           or
           otherwise
           our
           Out-cry
           will
           be
           but
           Noise
           ,
           and
           our
           Fears
           but
           Fantoms
           .
        
         
           But
           suppose
           any
           such
           wondrous
           Electors
           ,
           such
           Alien
           or
           Forreign
           supplies
           of
           Romanists
           could
           be
           found
           ,
           and
           so
           irregularly
           thrust
           into
           Corporations
           ,
           as
           to
           carry
           a
           Popish
           Majority
           of
           Corporation
           Members
           :
           Nor
           will
           such
           a
           bare
           Majority
           do
           the
           Work.
           One
           additional
           Hundred
           of
           Popish
           Members
           extraordinary
           must
           be
           had
           ,
           to
           over-power
           the
           Knights
           of
           the
           Shire
           ,
           who
           in
           Spight
           of
           all
           pretended
           Corporation
           Feats
           ,
           will
           be
           firm
           
             Protestant
             Members
          
           ;
           the
           Over-byassing
           of
           
             whole
             Counties
          
           ,
           being
           an
           Apprehension
           that
           
             Lunacy
             it self
          
           can
           never
           Forge
           .
           Nevertheless
           ,
           suppose
           all
           these
           Alien
           Supplies
           so
           obtruded
           upon
           us
           ,
           enough
           to
           carry
           the
           Cause
           .
           Alas
           ,
           what
           Palliation
           ,
           Nay
           ,
           what
           Eloquence
           of
           Angels
           is
           enough
           to
           vindicate
           such
           Irregular
           and
           such
           Arbitrary
           Foundation
           of
           a
           Parliament
           ;
           and
           instead
           of
           a
           
             Legal
             Assembly
          
           ,
           and
           truely
           
             National
             Senate
          
           ,
           or
           Popery
           so
           Establisht
           the
           Sacred
           Sanction
           of
           a
           LAW
           ,
           Even
           half
           an
           Eye
           would
           see
           through
           the
           Fraud
           ,
           and
           the
           whole
           World
           explode
           and
           condemn
           so
           visible
           a
           Deceipt
           and
           Illusion
           :
           Insomuch
           ,
           that
           His
           Majesty
           with
           as
           much
           Justice
           ,
           and
           twice
           as
           much
           Honour
           ;
           (
           Pardon
           the
           Profanation
           even
           of
           such
           a
           Supposition
           )
           might
           as
           well
           set
           up
           ,
           
             Sic
             volo
             sic
             Jubeo
          
           for
           Law
           ,
           and
           save
           himself
           the
           trouble
           of
           calling
           of
           Parliaments
           ,
           for
           dissolving
           
             Penall
             Laws
          
           or
           Tests
           ,
           or
           any
           other
           such
           tedious
           ,
           and
           indeed
           ,
           of
           the
           two
           more
           Vnprincely
           Toil
           and
           Labour
           .
        
         
           What
           
             Mountain
             Height
          
           ,
           are
           Fears
           raised
           to
           ;
           but
           how
           shallow
           a
           Basis
           are
           they
           Built
           upon
           ?
           Alas
           ,
           we
           are
           not
           in
           any
           kind
           to
           take
           Comparisons
           from
           Queen
           Marys
           ,
           or
           Queen
           Elizabeths
           Reign
           .
           The
           turning
           the
           Scale
           of
           Parliaments
           in
           those
           Days
           ,
           was
           the
           least
           part
           of
           any
           Reasonable
           Mans
           Wonder
           .
           What
           an
           easie
           Matter
           for
           the
           Influence
           and
           Ascendancy
           of
           
             Imperial
             Power
          
           to
           sway
           Laws
           ,
           
           and
           Establish
           Churches
           ,
           as
           the
           Sovereign
           Inclination
           leaned
           ;
           when
           the
           Church
           of
           Rome
           was
           not
           so
           low
           in
           its
           Wane
           ,
           or
           the
           Young
           Reformation
           so
           high
           in
           its
           Increase
           ,
           but
           either
           Party
           were
           in
           a
           manner
           
             the
             Moiety
          
           of
           the
           Nation
           ,
           and
           consequently
           the
           Favour
           of
           the
           Crown
           might
           go
           far
           ,
           and
           a
           Majority
           on
           the
           Royal
           Side
           ,
           be
           more
           easily
           obtained
           .
        
         
           But
           in
           the
           present
           ,
           even
           
             Despicably
             Diminitive
          
           Number
           of
           Romanists
           ,
           and
           so
           almost
           a
           Total
           Bent
           of
           the
           whole
           Nation
           to
           the
           other
           side
           ,
           the
           Project
           is
           so
           impracticable
           ,
           and
           the
           Turn
           so
           impossible
           ,
           as
           only
           Delirium
           can
           shape
           a
           Fear
           of
           it
           .
        
         
           But
           now
           to
           Sum
           up
           all
           ,
           and
           draw
           towards
           a
           Period
           :
           between
           such
           
             Penall
             Laws
          
           ,
           and
           such
           Tests
           ,
           and
           the
           wondrous
           Episcopal
           Tenderness
           for
           their
           Beloved
           Preservation
           ,
           Our
           Church
           ,
           though
           a
           good
           Mother
           ,
           is
           but
           a
           
             Course
             Nurse
          
           ,
           when
           such
           
             Vnlickt
             Brats
          
           as
           these
           ,
           are
           her
           Hug'd
           and
           Dandled
           Bantlings
           .
           And
           Our
           Consciencious
           Mute
           Prelates
           ,
           were
           certainly
           under
           the
           Fascination
           of
           no
           ordinary
           
             Hot
             Zeal
          
           ,
           or
           something
           else
           as
           Warm
           ,
           to
           be
           warpt
           into
           Disobedience
           in
           so
           poor
           a
           Cause
           ,
           viz.
           The
           Reading
           so
           inoffensive
           a
           Paper
           as
           His
           Majesties
           Declaration
           .
           —
           But
           perhaps
           ,
           after
           all
           ,
           there
           may
           be
           more
           in
           it
           than
           we
           are
           aware
           of
           .
           For
           who
           can
           Fadom
           the
           Depth
           of
           such
           a
           Disobedience
           ?
           Who
           knows
           but
           this
           very
           Mask
           of
           Conscience
           might
           be
           one
           of
           the
           subtlest
           Stratagems
           of
           Interest
           .
           Who
           ,
           I
           say
           ,
           knows
           but
           the
           Loss
           of
           so
           considerable
           a
           
             Church
             Regalia
          
           ,
           so
           dear
           an
           Ensign
           of
           
             Ecclesiastick
             Sovereignty
          
           as
           their
           Tormenta
           and
           Flagella
           ,
           their
           Tests
           and
           
             Penall
             Laws
          
           ;
           and
           so
           sensible
           a
           Diminution
           of
           their
           GRANDEVR
           ,
           their
           
             Diana
             GRANDEVR
          
           ,
           threaten'd
           by
           the
           Relaxation
           of
           those
           Laws
           ,
           might
           be
           so
           near
           a
           Concern
           to
           them
           ,
           that
           seing
           the
           Royal
           Indulgence
           to
           
             Religious
             Liberty
          
           ,
           daily
           more
           and
           more
           gaining
           upon
           the
           
           Hearts
           of
           the
           People
           ,
           and
           to
           stop
           the
           Carreer
           of
           so
           General
           a
           Compassion
           ,
           the
           Fatal
           Effects
           of
           so
           growing
           a
           Contagion
           ;
           their
           Denial
           of
           Reading
           so
           Pacifick
           a
           Declaration
           might
           possibly
           be
           one
           of
           the
           most
           exquisite
           Artifices
           to
           stiffle
           the
           generous
           Product
           of
           it
           into
           Abortion
           ;
           Their
           very
           Refusal
           being
           really
           no
           more
           than
           purposely
           to
           
             Court
             Sufferings
          
           ,
           to
           gain
           Proselytes
           ,
           as
           well
           fore
           knowing
           ,
           upon
           the
           least
           Punishment
           for
           it
           ,
           tho'
           ever
           so
           much
           their
           Due
           ,
           to
           have
           their
           Condoled
           and
           
             Pittyed
             Cause
          
           ,
           seen
           through
           those
           Popular
           
             False
             Opticks
          
           ,
           as
           should
           turn
           even
           Justice
           it self
           in
           Persecution
           :
           And
           so
           by
           Alaruming
           the
           
             Old
             Ignorance
          
           into
           
             New
             Jealousies
          
           ,
           they
           might
           so
           harden
           that
           present
           (
           too
           Universal
           )
           popular
           Lenity
           towards
           
             Tender
             Consciences
          
           ,
           and
           more
           than
           probably
           so
           affect
           the
           Frightned
           Populace
           ,
           and
           thereby
           so
           far
           influence
           the
           next
           Election
           as
           to
           defeat
           the
           whole
           Royal
           
             purposed
             Clemencie
          
           ,
           and
           gain
           their
           own
           Point
           .
        
         
           I
           should
           be
           sorry
           to
           be
           mistaken
           in
           this
           Suspicion
           ;
           but
           truly
           the
           shallowness
           of
           so
           Weak-reason'd
           an
           Obstinacie
           against
           so
           Innocent
           a
           Command
           of
           the
           King
           ,
           looks
           so
           very
           like
           some
           such
           sort
           of
           
             Ecclesiastical
             Polity
          
           ,
           that
           I
           am
           affraid
           the
           Consciencious
           stumble
           at
           so
           
             Diminitive
             a
             Gnat
          
           ,
           will
           at
           last
           be
           found
           a
           meer
           artful
           Piece
           of
           
             Priest
             craft
          
           ,
           to
           keep
           their
           Dagon
           from
           falling
           :
           And
           what
           that
           Dagon
           is
           ,
           let
           the
           World
           judge
           ;
           for
           excepting
           the
           Engines
           of
           their
           Tyranny
           ,
           and
           the
           supporters
           of
           their
           Pride
           ,
           I
           know
           no
           strength
           the
           
             Penal
             Laws
          
           or
           Tests
           ,
           either
           have
           or
           can
           yield
           them
           .
        
         
           But
           above
           all
           things
           that
           the
           Illegality
           of
           the
           King
           's
           
             Dispensing
             Power
          
           ,
           should
           be
           a
           Specter
           that
           appeared
           so
           dreadful
           to
           their
           Lordships
           ,
           yet
           walks
           invisible
           to
           every
           Mortal
           Eye-Sight
           else
           ,
           is
           not
           a
           little
           surprising
           ,
           The
           very
           Straitest-laced
           Prerogative
           Men
           ,
           never
           denied
           the
           King
           his
           
             Dispencing
             Power
          
           in
           Cases
           of
           Offence
           only
           against
           
           himself
           ,
           
             Absq
             .
             Damno
             alterius
          
           ;
           and
           wherein
           the
           bare
           Exercise
           of
           Religious
           Worship
           is
           ,
           or
           can
           be
           
             alterius
             Damno
          
           ,
           their
           Wisdoms
           would
           have
           been
           kind
           to
           inform
           us
           :
           Or
           wherein
           any
           Minister
           or
           Officer
           ,
           qualified
           or
           not
           qualified
           by
           the
           Test
           ,
           in
           any
           Civil
           or
           Military
           Station
           ,
           (
           for
           His
           Majestie
           pretends
           to
           no
           other
           Dispensation
           )
           can
           be
           
             Damno
             Ecclesiae
          
           would
           be
           another
           piece
           of
           Discovery
           ,
           as
           kind
           as
           the
           other
           .
           Wherein
           ,
           &
           what
           has
           our
           Church
           ,
           or
           our
           Nondispensing
           Church-men
           suffered
           by
           all
           this
           Toleration
           .
           Have
           they
           lost
           the
           least
           Particle
           of
           their
           Government
           ,
           Discipline
           ,
           Rights
           ,
           Priviledges
           ,
           or
           Possessions
           whatever
           .
           Is
           there
           any
           of
           our
           Nontested
           Magistrates
           ,
           or
           our
           Vnpinion'd
           Dissenters
           in
           all
           this
           Freedom
           ,
           has
           wrongd
           our
           Church
           of
           so
           much
           as
           a
           Sprig
           of
           Mint
           ,
           or
           a
           Corn
           of
           Cumminseed
           that
           she
           can
           challenge
           Hers.
           Is
           she
           denyed
           either
           Law
           or
           Justice
           ,
           for
           so
           much
           as
           the
           claim
           of
           a
           Tythe
           Egg
           ?
        
         
           And
           that
           this
           
             Dispensing
             Power
          
           ,
           may
           not
           look
           altogether
           so
           hidious
           ,
           What
           is
           the
           King
           's
           
             Dispensing
             Power
          
           in
           
             Penal
             Laws
          
           ,
           really
           any
           more
           than
           his
           
             pardoning
             Power
          
           .
           The
           Transgression
           of
           those
           Laws
           ,
           incurrs
           such
           a
           Penalty
           or
           Punishment
           ,
           and
           the
           Royal
           Clemencie
           ,
           is
           Graciously
           pleased
           to
           
             remit
             the
             Forfeiture
          
           .
           And
           indeed
           ,
           what
           does
           his
           Declaration
           amount
           to
           more
           than
           a
           
             Noli
             prosequi
          
           ,
           (
           only
           a
           more
           universal
           one
           )
           the
           Common
           and
           
             daily
             Plea
          
           of
           the
           Crown
           .
           His
           Majesty
           ,
           by
           his
           unquestion'd
           Right
           can
           pardon
           ;
           and
           what
           's
           his
           Declaration
           truly
           more
           than
           that
           he
           will
           do
           it
           .
           Our
           Great
           Crown-sticklers
           ,
           have
           to
           a
           very
           fair
           purpose
           ,
           so
           long
           Preach'd
           up
           our
           King's
           ,
           
             the
             Vizegerents
             of
             GOD
          
           ,
           to
           come
           at
           last
           to
           the
           denying
           them
           any
           part
           of
           the
           brightest
           Prerogative
           of
           the
           
             Divinity
             MERCY
          
           .
           And
           as
           to
           the
           backing
           the
           Credit
           ,
           of
           their
           Assertion
           ,
           by
           their
           Parliamentary
           Authority
           of
           72
           ,
           &c.
           
        
         
           I
           am
           sorry
           to
           hear
           our
           Divine
           Gamalels
           lay
           hold
           of
           so
           Weak
           a
           Handle
           ,
           as
           to
           set
           np
           a
           
             Transient
             Vote
          
           against
           a
           
             Fundamental
             
             Prerogative
          
           .
           And
           as
           to
           their
           Insinuation
           ,
           that
           upon
           our
           conceding
           a
           
             Dispensing
             Power
          
           ,
           in
           the
           Case
           of
           the
           
             Penal
             Laws
          
           and
           Tests
           ;
           it
           must
           therefore
           follow
           ,
           that
           we
           should
           open
           an
           Inlet
           to
           lay
           aside
           
             All
             Laws
          
           ,
           both
           Ecclesiastick
           and
           Civil
           ;
           't
           is
           an
           
             Ergo
             sequitur
          
           ,
           so
           strangely
           far
           stretch'd
           ,
           that
           they
           might
           e'ne
           as
           well
           have
           said
           ,
           (
           and
           the
           Consequence
           have
           hung
           as
           well
           together
           too
           )
           that
           because
           some
           of
           our
           
             Severe
             Fathers
          
           of
           our
           Church
           ,
           have
           Reasons
           of
           Conscience
           and
           Policy
           ,
           to
           support
           Laws
           for
           the
           depopulating
           of
           Kingdoms
           ,
           therefore
           the
           
             Gentler
             FATHER
          
           of
           our
           Country
           ,
           ought
           to
           have
           the
           same
           Reasons
           too
           .
        
         
           I
           hope
           ,
           their
           Lordships
           ,
           if
           for
           nothing
           but
           the
           Reputation
           of
           their
           Wisdom
           and
           Learning
           ,
           did
           not
           tender
           these
           Petitioning
           Reasons
           to
           His
           Majesty
           ,
           as
           intended
           for
           
             Convincing
             ones
          
           .
           For
           truly
           by
           the
           strength
           ,
           both
           of
           their
           Alledging
           and
           inferencing
           ,
           this
           part
           of
           their
           Petition
           ,
           if
           not
           all
           of
           it
           ,
           I
           am
           affraid
           looks
           more
           like
           Written
           for
           the
           Reading
           of
           the
           Rabble
           ,
           than
           of
           the
           King
        
         
           But
           to
           conclude
           .
           As
           the
           fore-mentioned
           are
           all
           our
           Dangers
           from
           their
           Repeal
           ,
           wherein
           are
           His
           Majesties
           Demands
           unreasonable
           ,
           in
           asking
           the
           Repeal
           of
           the
           
             Penal
             Laws
          
           ,
           in
           which
           almost
           the
           whole
           
             Vox
             populi
          
           ,
           Witness
           the
           late
           Numerous
           Adresses
           ,
           joyns
           with
           him
           ,
           and
           the
           Principles
           of
           
             Nature
             ,
             Humanity
          
           and
           Conscience
           plead
           for
           him
           .
           Or
           in
           asking
           the
           Repeale
           of
           the
           Test
           ,
           for
           the
           asserting
           of
           his
           own
           Honour
           ,
           and
           the
           Recovering
           the
           
             Birth-Right
             of
             a
             King
          
           ,
           by
           endeavouring
           to
           shake
           off
           the
           most
           shameful
           Vassalage
           that
           Monarch
           ever
           truckled
           under
           .
           And
           why
           must
           his
           Endeavours
           of
           doing
           his
           People
           so
           much
           Right
           in
           the
           first
           ;
           and
           Himself
           so
           much
           Right
           in
           the
           last
           ,
           be
           so
           poorly
           mis-interpreted
           ,
           by
           the
           unnatural
           Surmises
           of
           his
           Vngrateful
           People
           .
           But
           let
           us
           Blush
           and
           mend
           ,
           and
           by
           giving
           up
           these
           Laws
           ,
           do
           Equity
           in
           Return
           of
           Clemenoie
           and
           MERCY
           .
        
         
           FINIS
           .