The religion of the Dutch represented in several letters from a Protestant officer in the French army to a pastor and professor of divinity at Berne in Switserland ; out of the French.
         Religion des Hollandois. English
         Stoppa, Giovanni Battista.
      
       
         
           1680
        
      
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             The religion of the Dutch represented in several letters from a Protestant officer in the French army to a pastor and professor of divinity at Berne in Switserland ; out of the French.
             Religion des Hollandois. English
             Stoppa, Giovanni Battista.
             Davies, John, 1625-1693.
          
           [4], 66 p.
           
             Printed for Samuel Heyrick ...,
             London :
             1680.
          
           
             Written by Giovanni Battista Stoppa. Cf. BM.
             Translated by John Davies.
             Reproduction of original in Huntington Library.
          
        
      
    
     
       
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         eng
      
       
         
           Reformed Church -- Netherlands -- Early works to 1800.
           Netherlands -- Church history -- 17th century.
        
      
    
     
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           THE
           RELIGION
           OF
           THE
           DUTCH
           .
           Represented
           in
           Several
           LETTERS
           FROM
           A
           Protestant
           Officer
           IN
           The
           FRENCH
           ARMY
           ,
           to
           A
           Pastor
           and
           Pr●●●●●●
           of
           Divinity
           ,
           at
           BERNE
           in
           Swis●erland
           .
           Out
           of
           the
           French.
           
        
         
           LONDON
           ,
           Printed
           for
           
             Samuel
             Heyrick
          
           at
           Grayes-Inn
           Gate
           in
           Holbourn
           ,
           1680.
           
        
      
       
         
         
         
           The
           Contents
           of
           the
           LETTERS
           .
        
         
           
             THE
             First
             Letter
             discovers
             by
             what
             means
             ,
             and
             upon
             what
             motives
             ,
             the
             
               Reformed
               Religion
            
             ,
             according
             to
             the
             Calvinistical
             way
             ,
             was
             establish'd
             in
             the
             
               United
               Provinces
            
             .
          
           
             The
             Second
             and
             Third
             give
             an
             account
             of
             all
             the
             different
             Religions
             ,
             that
             are
             in
             those
             Provinces
             ,
             and
             their
             principal
             Opinions
             .
          
           
             The
             Fourth
             and
             Fifth
             prove
             ,
             That
             the
             
               United
               Provinces
            
             cannot
             be
             said
             ,
             to
             be
             an
             Estate
             of
             the
             
               Reformed
               Religion
            
             .
          
           
             The
             Sixth
             makes
             it
             appear
             ,
             That
             ,
             though
             the
             Dutch
             were
             the
             most
             
               Reformed
               
               Christians
            
             in
             the
             World
             ,
             yet
             were
             it
             an
             act
             of
             temerarious
             Imprudence
             in
             those
             of
             the
             
               Reformed
               Religion
            
             ,
             to
             Confederate
             together
             ,
             for
             their
             Relief
             ,
             in
             the
             War
             between
             Them
             and
             the
             most
             
               Christian
               King.
            
             And
             that
             ,
             of
             the
             Protestant-Cantons
             ,
             of
             Swisserland
             ,
             those
             were
             highly
             to
             be
             blam'd
             ,
             which
             refus'd
             to
             raise
             Forces
             for
             his
             most
             
               Christian
               Majesty
            
             ;
             as
             was
             also
             that
             of
             Berne
             ,
             which
             having
             granted
             his
             most
             
               Christian
               Majesty
            
             a
             Regiment
             ,
             kept
             so
             much
             stir
             ,
             to
             hinder
             its
             Serving
             against
             the
             Dutch.
             
          
        
      
    
     
       
         
         THE
         RELIGION
         OF
         THE
         DUTCH
         .
      
       
         
           The
           First
           LETTER
           .
        
         
           
             Reverend
             Sir
             ,
          
        
         
           THough
           I
           have
           alwaies
           known
           ,
           and
           look'd
           upon
           you
           ,
           as
           a
           most
           zealous
           man
           in
           the
           Calvinistical
           persuasion
           ,
           yet
           I
           should
           never
           have
           imagin'd
           ,
           that
           your
           zeal
           would
           have
           transported
           you
           so
           far
           ,
           as
           to
           induce
           you
           ,
           to
           pronounce
           an
           Anathema
           against
           all
           those
           of
           the
           
             Reformed
             Religion
          
           ,
           who
           now
           serve
           the
           
             most
             Christian
             King
          
           in
           the
           War
           ,
           wherein
           he
           is
           engag'd
           against
           the
           Dutch.
           Mean
           time
           ,
           you
           know
           ,
           that
           you
           have
           run
           into
           this
           strange
           Extremity
           ,
           in
           the
           Letter
           you
           were
           pleas'd
           to
           write
           from
           Borne
           ,
           of
           the
           15
           th
           .
           of
           the
           last
           Moneth
           ,
           which
           yet
           came
           not
           to
           my
           hands
           till
           within
           these
           two
           daies
           .
           You
           ,
           at
           the
           first
           dash
           ,
           tell
           me
           ,
           it
           is
           a
           matter
           you
           cannot
           be
           sufficiently
           astonished
           at
           ,
           That
           any
           Officer
           ,
           who
           makes
           Profession
           of
           our
           Religion
           ,
           whether
           he
           be
           Swisse
           ,
           or
           French
           ,
           or
           of
           what
           other
           Countrey
           soever
           ,
           should
           presume
           to
           fight
           against
           our
           
             dear
             Brethren
             in
             Christ
          
           ,
           the
           Dutch
           ,
           and
           make
           it
           their
           Business
           to
           destroy
           that
           
             Sanctifi'd
             Republick
             ,
             which
             has
             alwaies
             been
             the
             Refuge
             and
             Sanctuary
             of
             those
             of
             the
             Reformed
             Religion
             ,
             and
             to
             
             which
             all
             Protestants
             are
             in
             the
             highest
             manner
             oblig'd
             .
          
           You
           ,
           afterwards
           ,
           make
           it
           your
           most
           earnest
           entreaty
           to
           us
           ,
           That
           ,
           out
           of
           the
           tenderness
           we
           ought
           to
           have
           of
           our
           Salvation
           ,
           we
           should
           
             quit
             our
             Employments
             ,
             and
             enter
             our Selves
             into
             the
             Service
             of
             the
          
           Dutch
           ,
           
             so
             to
             expiate
             the
             Sin
             we
             have
             committed
             in
             serving
             against
             them
             .
          
           You
           solemnly
           declare
           to
           us
           ,
           in
           Fine
           ,
           That
           ,
           if
           we
           do
           not
           ,
           upon
           sight
           ,
           follow
           this
           advice
           of
           yours
           ,
           we
           are
           a
           sort
           of
           damn'd
           Wretches
           ,
           never
           to
           be
           retriev'd
           out
           of
           the
           deplorabl●
           Condition
           we
           are
           in
           ,
           and
           that
           we
           ought
           not
           to
           expect
           any
           Forgiv●ness
           for
           our
           Crime
           ,
           either
           in
           this
           World
           ,
           or
           that
           to
           come
           ,
           no
           more
           ,
           or
           less
           ,
           than
           if
           we
           had
           sinn'd
           against
           the
           Holy
           Ghost
           .
           As
           for
           your
           Protestant-Cantons
           you
           highly
           celebrate
           the
           Prudence
           of
           those
           among'st
           them
           ,
           who
           hav●
           deny'd
           his
           Majesty
           of
           France
           any
           Forces
           ,
           in
           his
           unjust
           War
           ,
           as
           you
           are
           pleas'd
           to
           call
           that
           ,
           wherein
           he
           is
           now
           involv'd
           ,
           against
           the
           Dutch.
           Besides
           ,
           you
           highly
           condemn
           those
           ,
           who
           ,
           having
           supply'd
           him
           with
           such
           Forces
           ,
           have
           not
           been
           importunate
           in
           the
           recalling
           of
           them
           ,
           and
           have
           not
           been
           dissatisfi'd
           ,
           to
           see
           them
           employ'd
           ,
           in
           attacking
           and
           maintaining
           the
           Cities
           which
           have
           been
           taken
           from
           the
           States-General
           .
        
         
           I
           should
           not
           have
           been
           much
           startled
           ,
           if
           I
           had
           receiv'd
           such
           a
           Letter
           from
           the
           Minister
           of
           some
           Country
           Village
           ,
           or
           from
           some
           person
           whose
           abilities
           rais'd
           him
           not
           above
           the
           ordinary
           Rate
           of
           men
           .
           But
           I
           must
           acknowledge
           my self
           surpriz'd
           ,
           as
           much
           as
           man
           can
           be
           so
           ,
           to
           see
           that
           you
           ,
           
             Reverend
             Sir
          
           ,
           who
           are
           a
           
             Professor
             of
             Divinity
          
           ,
           and
           have
           the
           reputation
           of
           being
           one
           of
           the
           most
           experiensed
           men
           of
           Swisserland
           ,
           especially
           upon
           the
           score
           of
           Politicks
           ,
           should
           write
           me
           a
           Letter
           fraught
           with
           things
           very
           strange
           and
           extravagant
           ,
           and
           Maxim●s
           absolutely
           inconsistent
           with
           sound
           Sence
           ,
           and
           Reason
           ,
           and
           contrary
           even
           to
           the
           end
           you
           have
           propos'd
           to
           your self
           ,
           which
           is
           ,
           doubtless
           ,
           the
           preservation
           and
           propagation
           of
           our
           
             Reform'd
             Religion
          
           ,
           and
           of
           the
           Churches
           which
           profess
           it
           .
           I
           undertake
           to
           make
           a
           clear
           justification
           of
           the
           truth
           of
           the
           things
           which
           I
           advance
           ,
           and
           to
           let
           you
           see
           the
           Mistake
           you
           lye
           under
           ,
           and
           with
           what
           injustice
           you
           have
           so
           slightly
           pronounc'd
           the
           Sentence
           of
           Condemnation
           ,
           against
           all
           those
           of
           the
           
             Reform'd
             Religion
          
           ,
           who
           serve
           the
           most
           
             Christian
             King
          
           ,
           in
           the
           War
           which
           he
           is
           now
           concern'd
           in
           against
           the
           ,
           Dutch.
           
        
         
           To
           that
           end
           ,
           it
           is
           my
           design
           ,
           to
           shew
           you
           ,
           somewhat
           at
           large
           ,
           of
           what
           nature
           the
           Religion
           of
           the
           Dutch
           is
           ,
           and
           what
           sanctity
           is
           to
           be
           attributed
           to
           their
           Republick
           ;
           and
           thence
           it
           will
           appear
           ,
           how
           highly
           
           the
           Protestants
           are
           concern'd
           to
           wish
           the
           preservation
           of
           it
           .
           And
           when
           that
           is
           done
           ,
           I
           shall
           afterwards
           prove
           ,
           That
           though
           the
           Hollanders
           were
           the
           most
           reform'd
           of
           all
           People
           ,
           in
           their
           Religion
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           in
           their
           morality
           ;
           yet
           you
           would
           not
           have
           any
           reason
           ,
           to
           condemn
           either
           those
           private
           Persons
           of
           their
           Persuasion
           ,
           who
           serve
           against
           them
           ;
           or
           yet
           those
           of
           your
           Cantons
           ,
           who
           have
           supply'd
           the
           most
           Christian
           King
           with
           Forces
           ,
           upon
           this
           occasion
           .
        
         
           I
           must
           acknowledge
           ,
           That
           if
           we
           consider
           the
           Dutch
           Confession
           of
           Faith
           ,
           and
           the
           Cathechism
           they
           use
           ;
           it
           cannot
           be
           denyed
           ,
           but
           that
           they
           profess
           the
           same
           Religion
           ,
           with
           that
           which
           is
           received
           at
           Geneva
           ,
           and
           in
           your
           Protestant-Cantons
           .
           But
           in
           the
           mean
           time
           ,
           this
           is
           to
           be
           noted
           ,
           That
           though
           they
           make
           an
           external
           Profession
           of
           the
           same
           Religion
           with
           yours
           ,
           yet
           their
           Conduct
           and
           Deportment
           do
           evidently
           demonstrate
           ,
           that
           they
           make
           not
           any
           account
           of
           it
           ,
           or
           that
           they
           believe
           it
           not
           at
           all
           .
           To
           that
           end
           ,
           it
           is
           requisite
           ,
           that
           I
           make
           a
           higher
           enquiry
           into
           things
           ,
           and
           go
           to
           the
           very
           source
           ,
           and
           give
           you
           a
           discovery
           ,
           by
           what
           Degrees
           ,
           and
           by
           what
           Means
           ,
           this
           Religion
           was
           established
           in
           the
           State
           ,
           and
           the
           different
           Conduct
           which
           the
           States-General
           have
           observ'd
           ,
           in
           reference
           thereto
           .
        
         
           I
           am
           of
           opinion
           ,
           in
           the
           first
           place
           ,
           That
           there
           is
           not
           any
           necessity
           of
           my
           telling
           you
           ,
           that
           Religion
           was
           neither
           the
           cause
           ,
           nor
           the
           pretence
           ,
           of
           the
           disturbances
           ,
           revolutions
           ,
           and
           seditions
           of
           the
           Low-Countries
           ;
           and
           that
           it
           was
           not
           upon
           that
           score
           ,
           that
           the
           People
           of
           several
           Provinces
           ,
           after
           they
           had
           carried
           on
           the
           War
           against
           their
           Prince
           ,
           for
           many
           years
           ,
           resolv'd
           at
           last
           to
           degrade
           him
           ,
           and
           to
           shake
           off
           the
           yoke
           of
           his
           Dominion
           over
           them
           .
        
         
           The
           great
           Lords
           of
           the
           Country
           ,
           as
           the
           Prince
           of
           Orange
           ,
           the
           Count
           of
           Egmont
           ,
           and
           Count
           Horne
           ,
           were
           extreamly
           exasperated
           ,
           to
           see
           ,
           that
           Cardinal
           
             de
             Granvelle
          
           ,
           a
           Forreigner
           ,
           and
           a
           person
           of
           very
           obscure
           Parentage
           ,
           had
           the
           management
           of
           all
           things
           ,
           and
           was
           the
           supreme
           Arbitrator
           of
           all
           Affairs
           ;
           and
           to
           think
           ,
           that
           they
           themselves
           had
           not
           any
           authority
           in
           the
           Government
           .
           They
           maintained
           in
           the
           mean
           time
           ,
           That
           the
           said
           authority
           belong'd
           to
           them
           ,
           of
           Right
           ,
           upon
           the
           score
           of
           their
           merit
           ,
           that
           of
           their
           birth
           ,
           that
           of
           the
           great
           Estates
           they
           were
           possess'd
           of
           ,
           and
           that
           of
           the
           Services
           they
           had
           done
           the
           State.
           
        
         
         
           The
           Ecclesiastical
           party
           were
           most
           highly
           disgusted
           ,
           upon
           this
           account
           ,
           That
           their
           Abbeys
           ,
           their
           Priories
           and
           their
           Benefices
           were
           to
           be
           abolished
           ,
           for
           the
           Raising
           of
           a
           Revenue
           for
           the
           new
           Bishopricks
           ,
           which
           had
           been
           erected
           ;
           as
           also
           for
           that
           they
           had
           set
           over
           them
           certain
           Persons
           ,
           who
           devour'd
           their
           annual
           profits
           ,
           and
           who
           censur'd
           their
           Conduct
           ,
           and
           their
           Manners
           .
           To
           which
           they
           added
           another
           grievance
           ,
           That
           ,
           according
           to
           the
           decisions
           of
           the
           most
           learned
           Lawyers
           of
           the
           Country
           ,
           it
           was
           an
           impi●ty
           ,
           to
           convert
           the
           Goods
           of
           Ecclesiastical
           Persons
           to
           any
           other
           Use
           ,
           than
           that
           whereto
           they
           had
           been
           design'd
           ,
           by
           the
           Wills
           of
           those
           ,
           who
           had
           made
           the
           donations
           of
           them
           .
        
         
           The
           Magistrates
           of
           Cities
           and
           Corporations
           made
           their
           Complaint
           ,
           That
           they
           had
           deny'd
           audience
           to
           the
           States
           ,
           who
           had
           desir'd
           a
           free
           Assembly
           ,
           that
           there
           might
           be
           a
           common
           consultation
           ,
           about
           the
           remedy
           ,
           most
           likely
           to
           promote
           the
           remedying
           of
           their
           grievances
           ;
           and
           that
           there
           had
           been
           new
           and
           insupportable
           impositions
           laid
           upon
           them
           ,
           not
           only
           without
           the
           Consent
           of
           the
           Estates
           ,
           but
           also
           in
           spight
           of
           their
           opposition
           .
        
         
           The
           ordinary
           People
           loudly
           declar'd
           ,
           That
           the
           King
           of
           Spain
           would
           have
           abolish'd
           the
           ancient
           form
           of
           their
           Government
           ,
           to
           the
           subversion
           of
           their
           Lawes
           and
           Customes
           ,
           that
           he
           might
           thereby
           introduce
           a
           Tyrannical
           dominion
           ,
           like
           that
           which
           he
           made
           Use
           of
           ,
           for
           the
           Government
           of
           some
           Kingdomes
           of
           Spain
           ,
           that
           of
           Naples
           ,
           and
           the
           Indies
           .
           In
           a
           word
           ,
           the
           Grandees
           ,
           the
           Ecclesiasticks
           ,
           the
           Magistracy
           ,
           and
           the
           common
           sort
           of
           People
           ,
           had
           all
           a
           particular
           occasion
           of
           discontent
           ;
           but
           they
           had
           also
           one
           which
           was
           common
           to
           them
           all
           .
           Above
           all
           things
           they
           had
           an
           extream
           horror
           for
           the
           Inquisition
           ,
           which
           had
           been
           establish'd
           amongst
           them
           ;
           out
           of
           a
           Fear
           ,
           that
           under
           pretence
           of
           Religion
           ,
           some
           design
           might
           be
           carried
           on
           ,
           against
           the
           Liberties
           and
           Estates
           of
           all
           .
           It
           was
           for
           the
           same
           reason
           ,
           that
           the
           Inhabitants
           of
           the
           Kingdom
           of
           Naples
           ,
           and
           of
           the
           Dutchy
           of
           Milan
           ,
           would
           not
           endure
           the
           establishment
           of
           the
           Inquisition
           amongst
           them
           ,
           though
           neither
           of
           those
           two
           Countries
           ever
           had
           any
           design
           ,
           to
           desert
           the
           doctrine
           and
           Worship
           of
           the
           Roman-Catholick
           Religion
           .
        
         
           Most
           part
           of
           the
           Inhabitants
           of
           the
           Low-Countries
           were
           ,
           at
           the
           beginning
           ,
           strongly
           inclin'd
           to
           the
           profession
           of
           the
           ancient
           Religion
           ;
           and
           yet
           they
           could
           not
           endure
           ,
           that
           any
           man
           should
           be
           put
           to
           death
           ,
           
           upon
           the
           score
           of
           any
           Religion
           whatsoever
           .
           And
           though
           that
           cruelty
           gave
           them
           not
           any
           occasion
           of
           Fear
           for
           themselves
           ,
           yet
           did
           it
           however
           raise
           in
           them
           a
           compassion
           for
           their
           fellow-Citizens
           .
           Howe're
           it
           were
           ,
           whether
           out
           of
           pity
           to
           others
           ,
           or
           by
           way
           of
           precaution
           for
           themselves
           ,
           those
           People
           ,
           who
           were
           extremely
           jealous
           of
           their
           liberty
           ,
           and
           for
           the
           conservation
           of
           their
           Lawes
           and
           Customes
           ,
           which
           ,
           at
           best
           ,
           are
           but
           Temporal
           things
           ,
           contributory
           to
           the
           conveniences
           of
           the
           present
           life
           ,
           could
           yet
           much
           less
           endure
           to
           be
           depriv'd
           of
           the
           Spiritual
           things
           ,
           which
           rela●e
           to
           the
           service
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           eternal
           Salvation
           .
        
         
           In
           the
           year
           1566.
           
           The
           greatest
           Lords
           of
           the
           Country
           ,
           and
           several
           Gentlemen
           ,
           considerable
           upon
           the
           score
           of
           their
           extraction
           ,
           of
           whom
           most
           were
           Catholicks
           ,
           entred
           into
           an
           Alliance
           ,
           for
           the
           preservation
           of
           their
           municipal
           Laws
           ,
           and
           for
           the
           abrogation
           of
           the
           sanguinary
           Edicts
           which
           had
           been
           made
           for
           the
           Establishment
           of
           the
           Inquisition
           .
           In
           pursuance
           of
           this
           first
           Treaty
           of
           union
           ,
           was
           it
           ,
           that
           they
           presented
           to
           Margaret
           ,
           then
           Governess
           of
           the
           Law-Countries
           ,
           that
           famous
           Petition
           ,
           which
           occasion'd
           the
           first
           insurrections
           ,
           and
           which
           procur'd
           them
           the
           denomination
           of
           Beggars
           ,
           which
           was
           then
           given
           them
           ,
           and
           which
           they
           could
           not
           get
           off
           for
           a
           long
           time
           :
           After
           the
           Treaty
           of
           Gaunt
           ,
           all
           the
           Catholick
           Provinces
           ,
           save
           only
           that
           of
           Luxemburg
           ,
           enter'd
           into
           an
           Alliance
           with
           those
           which
           were
           already
           confederated
           ,
           for
           the
           security
           of
           their
           Lawes
           ,
           their
           Privileges
           ,
           and
           their
           Liberty
           .
           The
           Alliance
           of
           Union
           ,
           and
           Armes
           ,
           which
           they
           had
           contracted
           ,
           against
           the
           Spaniards
           ,
           was
           immediately
           publish'd
           in
           Brussels
           ,
           and
           confirm'd
           by
           the
           solemn
           Oaths
           of
           the
           Clergy
           ,
           the
           Nobility
           ,
           the
           Gentry
           ,
           the
           People
           ,
           and
           of
           the
           Senate
           it self
           .
        
         
           In
           the
           year
           1578.
           
           The
           Estates
           ,
           as
           well
           of
           the
           Roman-Catholick
           Religion
           ,
           as
           of
           the
           Reformed
           Persuasion
           ,
           being
           assembled
           at
           the
           Hague
           ,
           did
           unanimously
           declare
           ,
           That
           King
           Philip
           was
           devested
           of
           the
           Principality
           of
           the
           Low-Countries
           .
        
         
           In
           the
           year
           1579.
           
           The
           Estates
           being
           assembled
           at
           Vtrecht
           ,
           made
           a
           new
           Union
           ,
           from
           which
           they
           took
           the
           name
           of
           the
           
             Vnited
             Provinces
          
           .
           And
           in
           the
           13
           th
           Article
           of
           that
           Treaty
           ,
           it
           is
           expresly
           order'd
           ,
           That
           every
           man
           shall
           be
           allow'd
           the
           liberty
           of
           Religion
           ,
           without
           any
           trouble
           of
           persecution
           to
           any
           one
           ,
           upon
           that
           occasion
           .
        
         
         
           All
           these
           Treaties
           of
           Alliance
           ,
           which
           the
           Provinces
           ,
           as
           well
           Catholick
           ,
           as
           Protestant
           ,
           had
           made
           together
           ,
           for
           their
           mutual
           defence
           against
           the
           Spaniards
           ,
           make
           it
           evidently
           appear
           ,
           That
           the
           design
           of
           Establishing
           a
           new
           Religion
           was
           neither
           the
           ground
           nor
           motive
           thereof
           .
           Prince
           William
           himself
           ,
           in
           his
           Declarations
           and
           Apologies
           ,
           did
           alwaies
           openly
           protest
           ,
           as
           did
           also
           the
           States
           in
           theirs
           ,
           That
           they
           had
           not
           taken
           up
           armes
           for
           Religion
           ,
           and
           that
           the
           Provinces
           had
           not
           united
           ,
           in
           order
           to
           the
           profession
           of
           any
           one
           particular
           Religion
           .
           So
           far
           was
           it
           from
           this
           ,
           that
           it
           is
           certain
           ,
           all
           the
           Treaties
           ,
           as
           that
           of
           Gaunt
           ,
           and
           the
           Union
           of
           Vtrecht
           ,
           all
           the
           Declarations
           of
           the
           Arch-Duke
           Matthias
           ,
           and
           of
           the
           Duke
           of
           Anjou
           ,
           do
           loudly
           establish
           the
           free
           Exercise
           of
           all
           Religions
           ,
           and
           in
           express
           terms
           ,
           forbid
           the
           Disturbing
           and
           Persecuting
           of
           any
           man
           upon
           that
           occasion
           .
        
         
           In
           the
           mean
           time
           ,
           though
           they
           had
           not
           ,
           at
           the
           beginning
           ,
           any
           reflection
           by
           way
           of
           conscientious
           motive
           ,
           for
           the
           having
           of
           any
           one
           publick
           Religion
           ,
           yet
           could
           they
           not
           forbear
           establishing
           it
           afterwards
           ,
           out
           of
           a
           pure
           interest
           of
           State.
           The
           Inhabitants
           of
           the
           Low-Countri●●
           having
           then
           ▪
           in
           a
           manner
           quite
           shaken
           off
           the
           yoke
           of
           Obedience
           to
           the
           Magistrates
           ,
           that
           juncture
           of
           time
           seem'd
           wonderfully
           fit
           for
           the
           Establishment
           of
           new
           Religions
           .
           About
           thirty
           or
           forty
           years
           before
           ,
           men
           had
           seen
           budding
           out
           afresh
           ,
           in
           
             Germany
             ▪
          
           the
           opinions
           of
           
             John
             Hus
          
           ;
           in
           England
           ,
           those
           of
           Wickliff
           ,
           and
           in
           France
           ,
           those
           of
           the
           Waldenses
           .
           All
           these
           different
           doctrines
           were
           much
           about
           the
           same
           time
           spread
           up
           and
           down
           amongst
           the
           Belgians
           .
           The
           Prince
           of
           Orange
           having
           got
           out
           of
           Germany
           and
           France
           ,
           some
           of
           the
           Disciples
           of
           Luther
           ,
           and
           Calvin
           ,
           where
           their
           Religions
           were
           already
           establish'd
           ,
           order'd
           them
           to
           Preach
           in
           the
           Low-Countries
           ,
           by
           the
           means
           of
           those
           new
           Doctors
           .
           But
           he
           himself
           persisted
           in
           a
           publick
           profession
           of
           the
           Roman
           Religion
           ,
           and
           was
           unwilling
           ,
           in
           the
           Principality
           of
           Oran●e
           ,
           to
           permit
           the
           Exercise
           of
           our
           
             Reformed
             Religion
          
           ,
           which
           was
           otherwise
           well
           establish'd
           in
           France
           .
           But
           as
           he
           had
           his
           Prospects
           at
           a
           great
           distance
           ,
           he
           either
           under-hand
           ,
           or
           openly
           ,
           when
           he
           thought
           it
           most
           convenient
           ,
           countenanc●d
           ,
           or
           conniv'd
           at
           all
           the
           Assemblies
           which
           the
           People
           made
           ,
           for
           the
           Exercise
           of
           all
           the
           New
           Religions
           ,
           which
           were
           of
           no
           long
           Standing
           in
           the
           World.
           By
           this
           m●ans
           did
           he
           make
           account
           to
           gain
           the
           Affections
           of
           the
           People
           ,
           and
           ,
           at
           one
           time
           or
           other
           ,
           to
           make
           his
           advantage
           of
           those
           different
           R●ligions
           ,
           for
           the
           execution
           of
           his
           great
           Designs
           .
           He
           knew
           that
           all
           those
           new
           Christians
           ,
           whom
           he
           protected
           in
           the
           Exercise
           of
           Religions
           ,
           were
           so
           
           many
           Creatures
           ,
           whom
           he
           made
           sure
           to
           his
           Party
           ,
           by
           an
           inviolable
           Bond
           ;
           and
           as
           many
           irreconcileable
           Enemies
           to
           Philip
           ,
           who
           was
           the
           cruel
           Persecutor
           of
           all
           those
           upstart
           Professors
           of
           Religion
           .
        
         
           In
           the
           mean
           time
           ,
           Prince
           William
           ,
           who
           had
           all
           this
           while
           conconceal'd
           his
           Sentiments
           for
           Religion
           ,
           took
           a
           very
           convenient
           opportunity
           ,
           to
           lay
           by
           the
           Roman-Catholick
           persuasion
           ,
           which
           he
           had
           till
           then
           profess'd
           ,
           and
           to
           embrace
           that
           of
           the
           Protestants
           .
           He
           was
           in
           Germany
           ,
           at
           his
           Brothers
           ,
           the
           Count
           of
           Nassaw
           ,
           and
           had
           been
           forc'd
           by
           the
           Intreaties
           of
           many
           of
           his
           Relations
           ,
           and
           some
           Friends
           ,
           banish●d
           out
           of
           the
           Low-Countries
           ,
           to
           try
           an
           expedition
           ,
           to
           endeavour
           the
           deliverance
           of
           their
           Country
           from
           the
           oppression
           wherein
           it
           was
           ,
           and
           to
           set
           it
           at
           liberty
           .
           When
           therefore
           he
           saw
           ,
           that
           he
           stood
           in
           need
           of
           the
           assistance
           of
           the
           Protestants
           ,
           for
           the
           getting
           of
           an
           Army
           tog●ther
           ,
           he
           thought
           it
           a
           fit
           time
           to
           cast
           off
           the
           Mask
           ,
           and
           to
           publish
           ,
           by
           his
           M●nifesto
           ,
           That
           he
           had
           deserted
           the
           Roman
           Church
           ,
           to
           follow
           a
           better
           Religion
           .
           He
           had
           also
           in
           his
           Eye
           this
           considerable
           advantage
           ,
           That
           by
           the
           Settlement
           of
           a
           Religion
           different
           from
           the
           Roman
           ,
           he
           rendred
           the
           reconciliation
           between
           the
           Provinces
           and
           the
           King
           of
           Spain
           ,
           more
           difficult
           ,
           or
           indeed
           impossible
           .
           He
           had
           observ'd
           ,
           that
           some
           of
           the
           Catholick
           Provinces
           had
           devia●ed
           from
           the
           Alliance
           of
           Gaunt
           ,
           and
           put
           themselves
           under
           the
           obedience
           of
           Philip
           ;
           and
           he
           saw
           ,
           that
           the
           Catholicks
           of
           the
           Confed●rated
           Provinces
           would
           rather
           have
           enclin'd
           him
           to
           reassume
           the
           yoke
           of
           their
           ancient
           domination
           .
           It
           was
           his
           Fear
           ,
           and
           with
           reason
           ,
           That
           when
           the
           dispute
           should
           be
           only
           about
           the
           Privileges
           ,
           the
           Lawes
           ,
           and
           the
           Customs
           ,
           and
           in
           a
           word
           ,
           things
           of
           a
           temporal
           Concern
           ,
           King
           Philip
           coming
           to
           satisfie
           his
           Subjects
           ,
           or
           the
           Subjects
           to
           recede
           from
           their
           Rights
           for
           the
           obtaining
           of
           a
           Peace
           ,
           it
           would
           be
           no
           hard
           matter
           to
           see
           those
           people
           reconcil'd
           to
           their
           Prince
           .
           Whereas
           ,
           on
           the
           other
           side
           ,
           having
           dispos'd
           the
           confederated
           Provinces
           ,
           to
           embrace
           a
           new
           Religion
           ,
           he
           thereby
           put
           an
           insurmountable
           obstruction
           to
           their
           reunion
           with
           Philip.
           He
           knew
           that
           That
           Prince
           ,
           who
           with
           an
           implacable
           fury
           persecuted
           all
           those
           who
           had
           renounc'd
           the
           ancient
           Religion
           ,
           would
           resolve
           rather
           to
           lose
           the
           Low-Countries
           ,
           than
           to
           grant
           his
           Subjects
           the
           free
           Exercise
           of
           a
           new
           Religion
           .
           There
           had
           been
           a
           Report
           spread
           about
           ,
           that
           presently
           upon
           his
           Return
           into
           Spain
           ,
           after
           he
           had
           order'd
           the
           Condemnation
           of
           some
           men
           eminent
           for
           their
           Learn●ng
           ,
           and
           women
           illustrious
           for
           their
           birth
           ,
           to
           be
           burnt
           ;
           he
           would
           himself
           be
           present
           at
           
           so
           cruel
           an
           execution
           ;
           and
           was
           a
           spectator
           of
           it
           ,
           as
           if
           it
           had
           been
           a
           delightful
           Show
           .
        
         
           Many
           persons
           therefore
           ,
           amongst
           the
           Inhabitants
           of
           the
           Low-Countries
           ,
           having
           embrac'd
           the
           new
           Religions
           ,
           the
           Prince
           of
           Orange
           engag'd
           them
           by
           the
           Bond
           of
           Conscience
           ,
           and
           by
           the
           Despair
           or
           Pardon
           ,
           to
           maintain
           the
           Change
           he
           had
           made
           ,
           that
           so
           they
           might
           not
           relapse
           under
           the
           power
           of
           their
           ancient
           Master
           .
           Happy
           was
           it
           ,
           for
           the
           prosecution
           of
           his
           design
           ,
           that
           he
           had
           made
           this
           advantage
           of
           that
           Liberty
           of
           Conscience
           ,
           which
           he
           had
           given
           to
           all
           sorts
           of
           persons
           ;
           but
           perceiving
           withal
           ,
           that
           that
           unbounded
           Liberty
           ,
           without
           the
           establishment
           ,
           and
           preference
           ,
           of
           some
           one
           Religion
           ,
           occasion'd
           a
           great
           confusion
           in
           the
           Government
           ,
           he
           thought
           it
           necessary
           to
           make
           choice
           of
           one
           ,
           which
           should
           be
           the
           pub●ick
           ,
           and
           predominant
           Religion
           ,
           and
           the
           Religion
           of
           State.
           Yet
           had
           he
           not
           as
           yet
           absolutely
           pitch'd
           upon
           what
           he
           intended
           ,
           nor
           determin'd
           which
           Religion
           he
           ought
           to
           embrace
           ;
           whether
           that
           of
           the
           Lutherans
           ,
           that
           of
           the
           Calvinists
           ,
           or
           that
           of
           the
           Anabaptists
           ;
           all
           those
           three
           Religions
           not
           making
           any
           acknowledgment
           of
           the
           Popes
           Authority
           ,
           or
           the
           jurisdiction
           of
           the
           Roman
           Church
           .
           But
           he
           had
           afterwards
           some
           reasons
           ,
           which
           oblig'd
           him
           to
           determine
           upon
           the
           choice
           of
           one
           ,
           as
           well
           for
           his
           own
           private
           Concern
           ,
           as
           for
           that
           of
           the
           State.
           The
           Sect
           of
           the
           Anabaptists
           was
           the
           least
           considerable
           upon
           all
           accounts
           ,
           and
           was
           not
           much
           to
           be
           fear'd
           ,
           as
           well
           by
           reason
           of
           the
           divisions
           wherewith
           it
           was
           shaken
           ,
           as
           by
           reason
           of
           its
           Sectators
           ,
           who
           ,
           for
           the
           most
           part
           ,
           were
           persons
           of
           a
           very
           obscure
           condition
           ,
           and
           of
           their
           Sentiments
           ,
           by
           which
           they
           are
           not
           admitted
           to
           Magistracy
           ,
           or
           the
           Use
           of
           Arms.
           For
           which
           reason
           ,
           the
           Prince
           of
           Orange
           could
           not
           make
           any
           Use
           of
           them
           ,
           as
           being
           not
           proper
           for
           his
           Design
           .
           He
           aspir'd
           to
           the
           principal
           charge
           of
           the
           State
           ;
           and
           that
           Religion
           permitted
           not
           its
           Disciples
           to
           exercise
           any
           kind
           of
           Magistracy
           .
           He
           needed
           the
           assistance
           of
           Arms
           ,
           to
           maintain
           and
           make
           good
           the
           Change
           he
           had
           made
           in
           the
           State
           ,
           and
           the
           new
           form
           of
           Government
           which
           he
           had
           establish'd
           ;
           and
           the
           Anabaptists
           would
           not
           have
           Arms
           used
           upon
           any
           occasion
           .
        
         
           The
           Lutheran
           Religion
           was
           very
           considerable
           ,
           by
           reason
           of
           the
           affection
           and
           Support
           of
           several
           Princes
           of
           Germany
           ,
           who
           had
           embrac'd
           it
           ,
           and
           highly
           protected
           those
           who
           made
           profession
           thereof
           .
           Prince
           William
           had
           more
           inclination
           for
           that
           Religion
           ,
           in
           
           which
           he
           ha●
           been
           instructed
           from
           his
           Infancy
           ,
           and
           he
           might
           very
           well
           hope
           for
           assistance
           and
           protection
           from
           the
           Electoral
           House
           of
           Saxony
           ,
           of
           which
           he
           had
           Married
           a
           Daughter
           ,
           to
           his
           Second
           Wife
           .
           But
           on
           the
           other
           side
           ,
           he
           hoped
           for
           more
           considerable
           assistances
           from
           the
           Princes
           who
           made
           profession
           of
           our
           Reformed
           way
           of
           Religion
           .
           That
           which
           Queen
           Elizabeth
           had
           Establish'd
           in
           England
           ,
           was
           wholly
           conformable
           to
           ours
           ,
           as
           to
           the
           Doctrine
           ,
           and
           differ'd
           from
           it
           ,
           only
           as
           to
           the
           Form
           of
           Government
           ,
           and
           the
           Use
           of
           Ceremonies
           .
           The
           Elector-Palatine
           ,
           who
           was
           then
           the
           most
           powerful
           Prince
           of
           the
           Empire
           ,
           did
           absolutely
           profess
           the
           same
           Religion
           .
           The
           King
           of
           Navarre
           ,
           the
           Prince
           of
           Condé
           ,
           and
           the
           Admiral
           Castillon
           ,
           and
           a
           considerable
           number
           of
           the
           Lords
           and
           Gentlemen
           ,
           and
           a
           numerous
           people
           of
           France
           ,
           made
           a
           publick
           profession
           of
           it
           .
           The
           Prince
           of
           Orange
           therefore
           ,
           hoping
           to
           engage
           all
           those
           Princes
           ,
           by
           the
           interest
           of
           one
           and
           the
           same
           Religion
           ,
           to
           give
           him
           powerful
           assistances
           ,
           for
           the
           corroboration
           of
           the
           new
           Republick
           ,
           thought
           fit
           to
           make
           choice
           of
           that
           Religion
           for
           himself
           ,
           and
           the
           State.
           Besides
           ,
           as
           that
           Religion
           was
           more
           contrary
           to
           that
           of
           the
           Romish
           Church
           ,
           than
           the
           Lutheran
           ,
           so
           he
           thought
           it
           more
           fit
           for
           the
           Common-wealth
           ,
           which
           he
           had
           founded
           ,
           out
           of
           an
           aversion
           to
           the
           Tyrannical
           Domination
           of
           Spain
           .
           The
           Inhabitants
           of
           the
           Low-Countries
           having
           a
           strong
           aversion
           for
           the
           Spaniards
           ,
           the
           Prince
           of
           Orange
           endeavour'd
           to
           persuade
           them
           ,
           That
           there
           was
           no
           likelihood
           ,
           that
           a
           people
           so
           corrupted
           ,
           should
           have
           received
           directions
           from
           God
           ,
           to
           serve
           him
           purely
           ,
           by
           the
           Worship
           of
           the
           true
           Religion
           .
           He
           afterwards
           endeavour'd
           to
           insinuate
           to
           them
           ,
           That
           our
           
             Reformed
             Religion
          
           ,
           which
           was
           more
           different
           from
           theirs
           ,
           was
           ,
           doubtless
           the
           best
           ,
           and
           most
           acceptable
           to
           God.
           
        
         
           There
           comes
           into
           my
           mind
           ,
           upon
           this
           occasion
           ,
           what
           I
           have
           Read
           in
           the
           History
           of
           the
           Indies
           ,
           That
           they
           could
           not
           by
           any
           means
           dispose
           a
           great
           number
           of
           persons
           of
           that
           Country
           ,
           to
           be
           converted
           to
           the
           
             Christian
             Religion
          
           ,
           because
           the
           Spaniards
           made
           a
           profession
           of
           it
           .
           For
           ,
           as
           those
           poor
           people
           had
           seen
           them
           commit
           such
           Cruelties
           ,
           as
           they
           had
           never
           seen
           any
           example
           of
           before
           ,
           so
           they
           had
           a
           horror
           for
           their
           Religion
           ,
           upon
           a
           supposition
           that
           it
           inspir'd
           them
           with
           such
           barbarous
           Sentiments
           .
           They
           could
           not
           be
           mov'd
           with
           the
           hope
           of
           Celestial
           Felicity
           ,
           after
           they
           had
           been
           told
           ,
           that
           the
           Spaniards
           ,
           together
           with
           all
           good
           Christians
           ,
           would
           have
           their
           abode
           in
           that
           happy
           place
           .
           They
           saw
           no
           charms
           in
           the
           Glories
           
           of
           Paradice
           ,
           since
           they
           were
           to
           be
           partakers
           of
           ●hem
           with
           a
           Nation
           so
           barbarous
           ;
           and
           they
           could
           not
           believe
           ,
           that
           the
           Felicity
           ,
           which
           they
           put
           them
           in
           hopes
           of
           ,
           could
           secure
           them
           from
           the
           persecution
           of
           so
           inhumane
           a
           people
           .
           In
           a
           word
           ,
           they
           could
           not
           be
           induc'd
           to
           embrace
           a
           Religion
           ,
           which
           was
           to
           conduct
           them
           ,
           after
           their
           death
           ,
           to
           live
           eternally
           in
           the
           company
           of
           a
           people
           ,
           which
           ,
           according
           to
           their
           Sentiment
           ,
           was
           the
           most
           wicked
           of
           any
           upon
           Earth
           .
        
         
           The
           Duke
           of
           Alva
           having
           exercis'd
           ,
           in
           the
           Low-Countries
           ,
           as
           strange
           Cruelties
           ,
           as
           those
           of
           his
           Country
           had
           done
           in
           the
           Indies
           ,
           the
           Inhabitants
           of
           Flanders
           and
           no
           less
           an
           aversion
           for
           the
           Spaniards
           ,
           then
           the
           Indians
           .
           And
           as
           all
           the
           rigorous
           punishments
           ,
           which
           had
           been
           inflicted
           upon
           the
           people
           of
           the
           Low-Countries
           ,
           were
           imputed
           to
           the
           Roman-Catholick
           Religion
           ;
           so
           the
           Prince
           of
           Orange
           did
           cunningly
           make
           use
           of
           that
           prejudgment
           ,
           to
           induce
           them
           to
           embrace
           a
           Religion
           ,
           contrary
           to
           that
           of
           the
           Spaniards
           ,
           which
           had
           made
           them
           endure
           so
           many
           Calamities
           .
        
         
           It
           was
           in
           the
           Year
           1572.
           that
           that
           Religion
           ,
           which
           was
           receiv'd
           in
           your
           Protestant-Cantons
           ,
           at
           Geneva
           ,
           in
           the
           Palatinate
           of
           Germany
           ,
           and
           in
           the
           Churches
           of
           France
           ,
           was
           established
           in
           the
           Confederated
           Provinces
           ,
           for
           the
           only
           publick
           Religion
           .
           And
           yet
           they
           put
           a
           difference
           in
           it
           ,
           which
           you
           will
           think
           very
           considerable
           ,
           if
           you
           consult
           the
           Sentiments
           of
           your
           first
           Reformers
           ,
           those
           of
           the
           Doctors
           who
           were
           their
           Successors
           ,
           and
           the
           constant
           practice
           of
           your
           Protestant-Cantons
           ,
           and
           of
           all
           the
           Estates
           of
           the
           Reform'd
           Religion
           .
           For
           you
           know
           ,
           that
           in
           all
           the
           Countries
           ,
           where
           those
           of
           our
           Religion
           are
           the
           Masters
           ,
           they
           do
           not
           suffer
           the
           exercise
           of
           any
           other
           Religion
           ,
           nor
           allow
           ,
           in
           all
           their
           Territories
           ,
           a
           place
           of
           habitation
           ,
           to
           those
           who
           profess
           a
           different
           one
           ;
           whereas
           the
           
             Vnited
             Provinces
          
           did
           not
           only
           permit
           the
           exercise
           of
           all
           sorts
           of
           Religions
           ,
           but
           did
           also
           reject
           as
           Tyrannical
           ,
           all
           the
           Laws
           ,
           whereby
           there
           was
           any
           prescription
           made
           for
           Uniformity
           of
           Sentiments
           ,
           upon
           that
           occasion
           ,
           attributing
           to
           them
           the
           name
           of
           Inquisition
           ,
           so
           odious
           amongst
           them
           .
        
         
           And
           this
           Liberty
           of
           Conscience
           ,
           was
           ,
           as
           I
           have
           already
           observ'd
           ,
           Establish'd
           ,
           not
           only
           by
           the
           Writings
           of
           the
           Prince
           of
           Orange
           ,
           by
           the
           Peace
           of
           Gaunt
           ,
           by
           the
           publick
           and
           particular
           agreement
           ,
           which
           was
           made
           for
           Religion
           ,
           under
           the
           Regency
           of
           the
           Arch-Duke
           Matthias
           ;
           
           by
           the
           Union
           of
           Vtretcht
           ;
           and
           by
           several
           Treaties
           which
           have
           been
           made
           with
           the
           Cities
           of
           the
           Country
           .
           If
           I
           mistake
           not
           ,
           methinks
           it
           may
           be
           affirmed
           ,
           that
           the
           Confederated
           Provinces
           were
           of
           our
           
             Reformed
             Religion
          
           in
           particular
           ,
           while
           the
           ,
           Liberty
           of
           Conscience
           was
           Establish'd
           for
           all
           sorts
           of
           Persons
           ,
           and
           the
           exercise
           of
           all
           Religions
           was
           publickly
           permitted
           ;
           and
           it
           was
           so
           till
           the
           Year
           1583.
           
           All
           the
           Regulations
           which
           the
           States-General
           have
           made
           afterwards
           for
           Religion
           ,
           and
           the
           Conduct
           they
           have
           been
           guided
           by
           ,
           in
           reference
           to
           that
           ,
           are
           so
           far
           from
           proving
           them
           to
           be
           of
           our
           Religion
           ,
           that
           they
           make
           it
           evidently
           appear
           ,
           that
           they
           never
           were
           ,
           nor
           are
           not
           at
           all
           of
           it
           .
           And
           this
           ,
           Sir
           ,
           is
           what
           I
           design
           to
           justifie
           to
           you
           in
           the
           first
           Letter
           ,
           which
           I
           shall
           write
           to
           you
           upon
           this
           Subject
           .
           This
           is
           long
           enough
           ;
           and
           if
           I
           am
           weary
           of
           Writing
           ,
           you
           possibly
           may
           be
           more
           weary
           of
           Reading
           what
           I
           have
           Written
           .
           Let
           us
           then
           repose
           a
           while
           .
           It
           will
           not
           be
           long
           e're
           you
           hear
           from
           me
           again
           ;
           mean
           time
           ,
           be
           assur'd
           ,
           that
           I
           am
           ,
        
         
           
             Reverend
             Sir
             ,
             Your
             most
             humble
             ,
             &c.
             
          
           
             Vtretcht
             ,
             
               May
               4
               th
               .
               1673.
               
            
          
        
      
       
         
         
           The
           Second
           LETTER
           .
        
         
           
             Reverend
             Sir
             ,
          
        
         
           IF
           you
           have
           seriously
           reflected
           on
           what
           I
           have
           written
           in
           my
           first
           Letter
           ,
           I
           conceive
           you
           will
           readily
           make
           this
           acknowledgment
           ,
           That
           the
           
             Vnited
             Provinces
          
           were
           not
           of
           the
           
             Reformed
             Religion
          
           ,
           as
           long
           as
           there
           was
           not
           any
           such
           Establish'd
           by
           any
           publick
           Decree
           ;
           and
           that
           all
           the
           Sectaries
           had
           as
           much
           liberty
           there
           ,
           as
           those
           of
           the
           
             Reformed
             Persuasion
          
           .
           I
           know
           well
           enough
           ,
           that
           that
           Liberty
           of
           Conscience
           ,
           which
           had
           been
           Establish'd
           by
           so
           many
           Treaties
           ,
           and
           by
           so
           many
           publick
           Acts
           ,
           was
           absolutely
           forbidden
           ,
           by
           the
           Regulation
           which
           the
           States-General
           made
           in
           the
           Year
           1583.
           
           Take
           here
           ,
           in
           express
           terms
           ,
           what
           it
           contains
           .
        
         
           
             Since
             there
             has
             been
             a
             permission
             granted
             ,
             by
             the
             Vnion
             of
          
           Utrecht
           ,
           
             to
             amplifie
             ,
             to
             abridge
             ,
             and
             change
             ,
             some
             Articles
             ,
             when
             ever
             the
             welfare
             and
             security
             of
             the
          
           Provinces
           
             should
             seem
             to
             require
             it
             ,
             the
          
           States
           ,
           
             attentively
             considering
             the
          
           XIII
           .
           
             Article
             ,
             have
             unanimously
             ordain'd
             ,
             and
             appointed
             ,
             That
             the
             exercise
             of
             any
             Religion
             shall
             not
             be
             henceforward
             receiv'd
             ,
             other
             then
             that
             which
             is
             publickly
             taught
             in
             the
          
           United
           Provinces
           ,
           
             which
             is
             the
          
           Reformed
           Religion
           .
           
             With
             this
             proviso
             however
             ,
             That
             if
             any
             Provinces
             ,
             Members
             ,
             or
             Cities
             of
             the
          
           Popish
           
             Religion
             shall
             be
             willing
             to
             enter
             into
             this
             Alliance
             ,
             they
             shall
             be
             continu'd
             in
             the
             freedome
             of
             their
             Religion
             ,
             conditionally
             ,
             that
             they
             sign
             and
             subscribe
             the
             other
             Articles
             of
             this
             Alliance
             .
          
        
         
           To
           render
           this
           Ordinance
           of
           no
           effect
           ,
           I
           might
           tell
           you
           ,
           what
           was
           alledg'd
           ,
           as
           soon
           as
           ever
           it
           was
           past
           ,
           by
           the
           Catholicks
           ,
           and
           all
           those
           who
           were
           not
           of
           our
           
             Reformed
             Religion
          
           .
           Their
           complaint
           was
           ,
           That
           it
           had
           been
           made
           ,
           contrary
           to
           all
           manner
           of
           Justice
           and
           Reason
           ,
           contrary
           to
           the
           Stipulated
           Faith
           of
           all
           the
           Treaties
           ,
           which
           the
           Inhabitants
           of
           the
           same
           Provinces
           had
           made
           ,
           and
           of
           those
           
           which
           the
           Provinces
           had
           made
           mutually
           one
           with
           an
           other
           .
           They
           maintain'd
           ,
           That
           ,
           having
           united
           themselves
           together
           ,
           for
           the
           preservation
           of
           the
           Laws
           and
           Privileges
           of
           the
           Country
           ,
           it
           was
           a
           great
           injustice
           ,
           to
           make
           an
           Establishment
           of
           one
           single
           Religion
           ,
           to
           be
           the
           publick
           Religion
           ,
           and
           to
           deprive
           the
           others
           of
           the
           exercise
           of
           theirs
           ,
           and
           not
           to
           allow
           them
           any
           part
           in
           the
           Government
           of
           the
           State.
           
        
         
           But
           ,
           above
           all
           others
           ,
           the
           Catholicks
           thought
           it
           very
           strange
           ,
           that
           they
           ,
           having
           taken
           up
           Arms
           against
           the
           Spaniards
           ,
           only
           for
           the
           defence
           of
           their
           Liberty
           ,
           should
           not
           be
           allow'd
           the
           free
           exercise
           of
           their
           ancient
           Religion
           ,
           as
           if
           they
           had
           spent
           all
           their
           labour
           ,
           only
           to
           deprive
           themselves
           thereof
           ,
           and
           to
           acquire
           Liberty
           of
           Conscience
           for
           others
           ,
           and
           to
           make
           the
           
             Reformed
             Religion
          
           the
           most
           predominant
           ,
           and
           to
           raise
           that
           only
           into
           the
           Throne
           .
           Nor
           did
           the
           followers
           of
           the
           other
           Religions
           ,
           think
           they
           had
           less
           cause
           ,
           then
           the
           Catholicks
           ,
           to
           be
           dissatisfy'd
           and
           disgusted
           ,
           at
           that
           Ordinance
           ,
           which
           took
           away
           the
           exercise
           and
           absolute
           freedom
           of
           their
           Religion
           .
           They
           urged
           ,
           That
           from
           the
           time
           of
           their
           first
           intertexture
           of
           the
           interest
           of
           Religion
           ,
           with
           that
           of
           the
           State
           ,
           in
           the
           contest
           which
           they
           had
           with
           the
           Spaniards
           ,
           Liberty
           of
           Conscience
           had
           been
           Establish'd
           by
           so
           many
           publick
           Decrees
           ,
           that
           they
           could
           not
           be
           violated
           ,
           without
           extremity
           of
           injustice
           .
        
         
           The
           Prince
           of
           Orange
           ,
           without
           concerning
           himself
           much
           at
           the
           complaints
           of
           the
           one
           or
           the
           other
           of
           the
           aggrieved
           Parties
           ,
           did
           ,
           for
           his
           own
           private
           interest
           ,
           and
           for
           that
           of
           the
           Republick
           ,
           prosecute
           his
           design
           of
           making
           an
           Establishment
           of
           our
           
             Reformed
             Religion
          
           ,
           to
           be
           the
           only
           
             Publick
             Religion
          
           ,
           of
           which
           all
           those
           ,
           who
           should
           pretend
           to
           any
           concern
           in
           the
           Administration
           of
           the
           Government
           ,
           were
           oblig'd
           to
           make
           their
           profession
           .
           He
           had
           a
           jealousie
           of
           the
           Catholicks
           ,
           upon
           the
           score
           of
           his
           being
           afraid
           ,
           that
           they
           might
           employ
           their
           credit
           ,
           to
           dispose
           the
           people
           to
           resettle
           themselves
           under
           the
           domination
           of
           the
           Spaniards
           .
           Nor
           had
           he
           any
           greater
           liking
           to
           the
           adherents
           of
           the
           other
           Religions
           ,
           by
           reason
           of
           their
           being
           odious
           to
           all
           the
           rest
           of
           the
           Protestants
           .
           As
           therefore
           those
           who
           profess'd
           our
           
             Reformed
             Religion
          
           were
           the
           best-affected
           to
           him
           ,
           so
           he
           thought
           it
           convenient
           ,
           to
           entrust
           them
           with
           all
           the
           Authority
           ,
           for
           the
           management
           of
           publick
           Affairs
           .
        
         
         
           Now
           ,
           Reverend
           Sir
           ,
           be
           your self
           pleas'd
           to
           judg
           ,
           whether
           these
           Provinces
           deserve
           to
           be
           called
           of
           the
           
             Reformed
             Religion
          
           ,
           for
           this
           reason
           ,
           that
           ,
           out
           of
           pure
           interest
           of
           State
           ,
           and
           without
           any
           Justice
           ,
           they
           have
           made
           an
           Ordinance
           for
           the
           Establishment
           of
           one
           single
           Religion
           ,
           exclusively
           to
           all
           the
           rest
           ?
        
         
           But
           supposing
           I
           should
           grant
           ,
           that
           whatever
           is
           alledg'd
           by
           the
           Catholicks
           ,
           and
           the
           Sectaries
           ,
           against
           that
           Ordinance
           ,
           is
           groundless
           ,
           and
           irrational
           ,
           and
           that
           they
           had
           the
           justest
           Reasons
           in
           the
           World
           to
           make
           it
           ;
           yet
           I
           maintain
           ,
           that
           the
           bare
           making
           of
           it
           is
           not
           a
           sufficient
           inducement
           ,
           for
           any
           one
           to
           affirm
           ,
           that
           this
           State
           is
           of
           the
           
             Reformed
             Religion
          
           .
           I
           cannot
           forbear
           acknowledging
           ,
           that
           this
           Ordinance
           does
           so
           expressly
           comprehend
           the
           sentiment
           of
           all
           our
           Doctors
           ,
           that
           if
           the
           
             Vnited
             Provinces
          
           had
           been
           as
           careful
           in
           the
           execution
           of
           it
           ,
           as
           the
           Elector-Palatine
           ,
           your
           Protéstant-Cantons
           ,
           and
           the
           City
           of
           Geneva
           are
           ,
           it
           could
           not
           be
           deny'd
           ,
           but
           that
           their
           State
           really
           and
           truly
           is
           of
           our
           
             Reformed
             Religion
          
           .
           But
           I
           think
           ,
           Sir
           ,
           that
           you
           do
           know
           ,
           and
           if
           you
           do
           not
           know
           it
           ,
           I
           shall
           make
           it
           so
           clearly
           appear
           to
           you
           ,
           that
           you
           shall
           not
           in
           the
           least
           doubt
           of
           it
           ,
           That
           this
           Ordinance
           has
           been
           so
           far
           from
           being
           put
           into
           execution
           ,
           that
           they
           have
           always
           practic'd
           ,
           and
           still
           do
           practice
           ,
           what
           is
           directly
           contrary
           to
           the
           Contents
           thereof
           .
        
         
           By
           this
           Ordinance
           ,
           there
           is
           an
           express
           prohibition
           of
           allowing
           any
           other
           Religion
           then
           the
           Reformed
           ,
           in
           the
           Provinces
           ;
           and
           yet
           we
           there
           find
           the
           publick
           exercise
           of
           many
           other
           Religions
           ,
           besides
           the
           Reformed
           ,
           not
           to
           say
           of
           all
           those
           who
           were
           desirous
           to
           have
           it
           .
           And
           that
           you
           may
           not
           doubt
           of
           it
           ,
           I
           shall
           here
           give
           you
           a
           short
           Catalogue
           of
           the
           Religions
           in
           that
           Country
           ,
           which
           have
           an
           uncontroulable
           liberty
           of
           celebrating
           their
           Mysteries
           ,
           and
           serving
           God
           ,
           as
           they
           themselves
           think
           fit
           .
        
         
           Be
           pleas'd
           then
           to
           know
           ,
           that
           besides
           those
           of
           the
           Reformed
           Religion
           ,
           there
           are
           
             Roman-Catholicks
             ,
             Lutherans
             ,
             Brownists
             ,
             Independents
             ,
             Arminians
             ,
             Anabaptists
             ,
             Socinians
             ,
             Arrians
             ,
             Enthusiasts
             ,
             Quakers
             ,
             Borrelists
             ,
             Armenians
             ,
             Muscovites
             ,
             Libertines
             ,
          
           and
           others
           .
           And
           there
           are
           in
           fine
           some
           whom
           we
           may
           call
           Seekers
           ,
           because
           they
           are
           still
           seeking
           out
           for
           a
           Religion
           ,
           and
           do
           not
           profess
           any
           of
           those
           which
           are
           already
           Establish'd
           .
           I
           give
           you
           no
           account
           of
           the
           Jews
           ,
           the
           Turks
           ,
           and
           the
           Persians
           ,
           in
           regard
           that
           ,
           as
           they
           are
           not
           Sects
           o
           
           Christians
           ,
           so
           what
           I
           might
           say
           of
           them
           would
           signifie
           nothing
           to
           the
           subject
           I
           have
           in
           hand
           .
           And
           since
           I
           am
           well
           satisfy'd
           ,
           that
           there
           are
           not
           any
           Turks
           and
           Persians
           ,
           but
           what
           are
           in
           Amsterdam
           ,
           or
           haply
           in
           some
           other
           Sea-Port-Towns
           ,
           there
           is
           no
           consequence
           deducible
           thence
           ,
           for
           the
           Residence
           of
           any
           such
           in
           the
           other
           Cities
           of
           that
           Country
           .
           Nor
           shall
           I
           say
           any
           thing
           of
           the
           Armenians
           and
           Muscovites
           ,
           who
           are
           all
           of
           the
           Greek
           Religion
           .
           And
           as
           I
           conceive
           ,
           that
           there
           are
           only
           some
           Merchants
           of
           the
           one
           ,
           and
           of
           the
           other
           of
           those
           Nations
           ,
           and
           that
           none
           of
           the
           Natives
           of
           the
           Country
           do
           profess
           their
           Religion
           ;
           so
           I
           do
           not
           think
           there
           is
           any
           person
           ,
           that
           will
           condemn
           the
           liberty
           which
           is
           given
           them
           ,
           to
           serve
           God
           ,
           according
           to
           the
           Ceremonies
           and
           Precepts
           of
           their
           Religion
           .
           And
           whereas
           ,
           of
           all
           the
           other
           Religions
           ,
           and
           Sects
           ,
           we
           find
           a
           great
           number
           of
           persons
           ,
           born
           in
           that
           Country
           ,
           who
           make
           an
           open
           and
           publick
           profession
           thereof
           ,
           I
           conceive
           you
           will
           not
           take
           it
           amiss
           ,
           that
           I
           should
           here
           in
           few
           words
           ,
           give
           you
           an
           account
           of
           the
           Opinions
           ,
           of
           all
           the
           Religions
           ,
           which
           are
           in
           this
           Country
           .
        
         
           As
           to
           the
           Doctors
           and
           Professors
           of
           our
           Religion
           ,
           I
           question
           not
           but
           you
           know
           ,
           that
           they
           also
           differ
           amongst
           themselves
           ,
           in
           many
           things
           .
           Voëtius
           ,
           and
           
             des
             Marets
          
           have
           ,
           by
           their
           disputes
           ,
           distracted
           and
           dishumour'd
           all
           the
           Province
           of
           Holland
           ,
           where
           they
           have
           been
           so
           violent
           ,
           one
           against
           the
           other
           ,
           that
           if
           men
           would
           believe
           either
           the
           one
           ,
           or
           the
           other
           ,
           they
           must
           ,
           upon
           pain
           of
           Damnation
           ,
           stick
           to
           the
           sentiment
           of
           the
           one
           ,
           and
           reject
           that
           of
           his
           Adversary
           .
           Voëtius
           did
           ,
           and
           still
           does
           maintain
           ,
           That
           it
           is
           Sacriledge
           ,
           to
           leave
           the
           Ecclesiastical
           Revenues
           at
           the
           disposal
           of
           Slothful
           Paunches
           ,
           which
           are
           not
           any
           way
           serviceable
           to
           Church
           or
           State
           ;
           That
           those
           who
           are
           known
           by
           the
           name
           of
           Lombards
           ,
           are
           not
           to
           be
           called
           ,
           or
           admitted
           to
           the
           Lord's
           Supper
           ,
           inasmuch
           as
           ,
           lending
           out
           Money
           at
           Interest
           ,
           they
           exercise
           a
           profession
           forbidden
           by
           the
           word
           of
           God
           ;
           That
           the
           Sabbath-Day
           is
           to
           be
           very
           carefully
           and
           Religiously
           observ'd
           ;
           That
           we
           ought
           not
           to
           Celebrate
           any
           Festival-Day
           ,
           no
           not
           
             Easter
             ,
             Whitsuntide
          
           ,
           or
           Christmas
           ;
           That
           when
           we
           speak
           of
           the
           Apostles
           ,
           Evangelists
           ,
           or
           Disciples
           of
           
             Jesus
             Christ
          
           ,
           we
           are
           not
           to
           give
           any
           one
           the
           name
           of
           Saint
           ,
           and
           that
           we
           are
           not
           to
           say
           ,
           Saint
           Peter
           ,
           Saint
           Paul
           ,
           Saint
           John
           ,
           Saint
           Thomas
           ,
           but
           to
           say
           downright
           ,
           
             Peter
             ,
             Paul
             ,
             John
          
           ,
           and
           Thomas
           ;
           and
           that
           all
           the
           Faithful
           ought
           to
           follow
           a
           severe
           kind
           of
           life
           ,
           to
           retrench
           themselves
           from
           the
           greatest
           part
           even
           of
           the
           most
           innocent
           enjoyments
           of
           life
           ,
           
           that
           they
           may
           the
           better
           work
           out
           their
           Salvation
           with
           Fear
           and
           Trembling
           .
        
         
           On
           the
           other
           side
           ,
           
             des
             Marets
          
           is
           opposite
           to
           Voetius
           ,
           almost
           in
           all
           these
           things
           ,
           and
           hath
           argu'd
           against
           his
           Sentiments
           ,
           with
           so
           much
           Animosity
           ,
           as
           if
           their
           Dispute
           had
           been
           about
           those
           points
           of
           Religion
           which
           are
           most
           important
           ,
           and
           most
           necessary
           to
           Salvation
           .
           And
           I
           think
           they
           had
           not
           yet
           ended
           their
           Dispute
           ,
           if
           Cocceius
           had
           not
           publish'd
           some
           Opinions
           ,
           which
           were
           displeasing
           to
           both
           ;
           upon
           which
           they
           thought
           fit
           to
           agree
           together
           ,
           in
           order
           to
           the
           opposing
           of
           them
           .
        
         
           This
           Cocceius
           was
           a
           Professor
           of
           the
           University
           of
           Leiden
           ,
           very
           well
           skill'd
           in
           the
           Hebrew
           Tongue
           ,
           who
           read
           the
           Scripture
           with
           a
           continual
           attention
           ,
           and
           has
           therein
           discover'd
           many
           things
           ,
           which
           were
           not
           before
           known
           to
           any
           one
           ,
           and
           hath
           penetrated
           into
           the
           mystical
           and
           profound
           Sence
           of
           it
           .
           In
           all
           the
           Prophecies
           of
           the
           Old
           and
           New
           Testament
           ,
           he
           almost
           every
           where
           finds
           the
           Reign
           of
           Christ
           ,
           and
           that
           of
           Anti-Christ
           ,
           which
           is
           opposite
           thereto
           .
           He
           has
           dispos'd
           the
           oeconomy
           of
           the
           Old
           and
           New
           Testament
           after
           a
           way
           not
           known
           before
           ,
           and
           such
           as
           had
           not
           yet
           been
           Establish'd
           by
           any
           Doctor
           .
           He
           is
           the
           first
           that
           has
           discover'd
           ,
           and
           taught
           ,
           the
           difference
           there
           is
           ,
           between
           the
           Government
           of
           the
           Church
           before
           the
           Law
           ,
           and
           that
           under
           the
           Law
           ,
           and
           that
           after
           the
           Law.
           He
           affirms
           ,
           That
           before
           the
           Law
           ,
           the
           Promise
           took
           place
           ;
           during
           which
           time
           of
           the
           Promise
           ,
           the
           Church
           was
           free
           .
           That
           to
           the
           Promise
           ,
           God
           had
           added
           the
           Law
           ,
           which
           ,
           having
           been
           at
           first
           represented
           in
           the
           Decalogue
           ,
           contains
           only
           an
           abridgment
           of
           the
           Covenant
           of
           Grace
           ,
           and
           the
           Commandments
           of
           Faith
           ,
           Repentance
           ,
           and
           the
           Gratitude
           we
           owe
           to
           God
           ;
           as
           it
           appears
           by
           the
           sence
           of
           the
           Preface
           ,
           and
           of
           all
           the
           Commandements
           in
           particular
           .
           He
           adds
           ,
           That
           after
           the
           worshipping
           of
           the
           Golden
           Calf
           ,
           God
           ,
           to
           Chastize
           his
           people
           for
           the
           Idolatry
           ,
           which
           they
           had
           committed
           ,
           had
           given
           them
           a
           Law
           ,
           consisting
           of
           Ceremonial
           and
           Carnal
           Commandements
           ,
           which
           were
           not
           good
           ;
           having
           impos'd
           upon
           them
           a
           Yoke
           ,
           by
           the
           Establishment
           of
           his
           Ordinances
           and
           Ceremonies
           .
           Whence
           it
           comes
           ,
           that
           the
           Law
           had
           been
           made
           ,
           in
           appearance
           ,
           a
           
             Covenant
             of
             Works
          
           ,
           promising
           life
           to
           those
           ,
           who
           should
           obey
           his
           Commandments
           ,
           and
           denouncing
           malediction
           and
           death
           against
           those
           ,
           who
           should
           transgress
           them
           .
        
         
         
           It
           is
           also
           another
           persuasion
           of
           his
           ,
           That
           the
           Commandement
           concerning
           the
           observation
           of
           the
           Sabbath-Day
           ,
           was
           one
           of
           those
           Ceremonial
           and
           Carnal
           Commandements
           ,
           which
           have
           been
           abrogated
           by
           
             Jesus
             Christ
          
           .
           During
           all
           the
           time
           before
           
             Jesus
             Christ
          
           had
           paid
           the
           Father
           the
           price
           of
           our
           Redemption
           ,
           he
           affirms
           ,
           That
           all
           the
           Faithful
           were
           sav'd
           ,
           by
           the
           Security
           which
           
             Jesus
             Christ
          
           had
           given
           for
           us
           ;
           That
           the
           forgiving
           of
           Sins
           did
           not
           take
           place
           ,
           otherwise
           than
           by
           a
           connivance
           of
           Grace
           ,
           in
           as
           much
           as
           They
           were
           only
           under
           the
           Promise
           ;
           the
           payment
           ,
           or
           satisfaction
           ,
           having
           not
           been
           yet
           made
           by
           
             Jesus
             Christ
          
           .
           That
           the
           Law
           being
           added
           ,
           as
           an
           obligation
           ,
           did
           reproach
           the
           People
           with
           their
           sins
           ,
           and
           put
           them
           into
           a
           mindfulness
           thereof
           by
           the
           Sacrifices
           ;
           and
           that
           it
           is
           upon
           that
           score
           that
           the
           Ancient
           people
           were
           under
           servitude
           ,
           and
           in
           fear
           of
           death
           ,
           till
           such
           time
           as
           
             Jesus
             Christ
          
           ,
           having
           ,
           by
           his
           Blood
           ,
           paid
           the
           Ransom
           of
           our
           Sins
           ,
           the
           Obligation
           ,
           which
           was
           in
           force
           against
           them
           ,
           being
           cancell'd
           ,
           we
           have
           fully
           and
           perfectly
           obtain'd
           the
           pardon
           of
           our
           sins
           .
           He
           is
           of
           Opinion
           ,
           in
           fine
           ,
           That
           there
           is
           to
           spring
           up
           in
           the
           World
           a
           Reign
           of
           
             Jesus
             Christ
          
           ,
           which
           will
           abolish
           the
           reign
           of
           Antichrist
           ;
           and
           that
           ,
           when
           they
           who
           shall
           have
           corrupted
           the
           Earth
           shall
           be
           destroy'd
           ,
           the
           Church
           shall
           be
           in
           a
           happy
           condition
           in
           the
           World
           ;
           And
           when
           there
           shall
           be
           a
           restauration
           of
           the
           Reign
           of
           
             Jesus
             Christ
          
           ,
           before
           the
           End
           of
           the
           World
           ;
           and
           that
           after
           the
           Conversion
           of
           the
           Jews
           ,
           and
           of
           all
           Nations
           ,
           the
           
             Catholick
             Church
          
           shall
           scatter
           the
           rayes
           of
           its
           meridian
           light
           and
           glory
           ,
           into
           all
           Parts
           of
           the
           World.
           He
           believes
           Her
           to
           be
           the
           Celestial
           Hierusalem
           ,
           which
           is
           describ'd
           in
           the
           Revelation
           ,
           the
           Emblem
           whereof
           represents
           to
           us
           the
           condition
           of
           the
           Church
           ,
           such
           as
           she
           ought
           to
           be
           in
           her
           greatest
           Splendour
           upon
           Earth
           ,
           and
           not
           that
           which
           is
           to
           triumph
           in
           Heaven
           .
        
         
           I
           thought
           my self
           oblig'd
           to
           give
           you
           an
           account
           of
           the
           particular
           Sentiments
           of
           this
           Divine
           ,
           because
           he
           has
           a
           great
           number
           of
           followers
           ;
           as
           also
           for
           this
           Reason
           ,
           That
           Voetius
           and
           
             des
             Marets
          
           condemn
           his
           Opinions
           as
           Heretical
           ;
           nay
           indeed
           represent
           him
           as
           a
           Socinian
           ,
           in
           many
           things
           .
           They
           affirm
           ,
           That
           he
           is
           an
           Innovator
           ,
           and
           give
           him
           the
           title
           of
           Scripturarius
           ;
           as
           if
           it
           were
           a
           great
           crime
           ,
           to
           be
           closely
           addicted
           to
           the
           Scripture
           ,
           and
           to
           make
           it
           the
           most
           important
           of
           our
           Studies
           .
           There
           are
           many
           other
           Divines
           ,
           especially
           such
           as
           have
           studied
           under
           the
           Professors
           ,
           whom
           I
           have
           before
           named
           ,
           who
           obstinately
           oppose
           his
           Sentiments
           ,
           and
           endeavour
           
           to
           persecute
           ,
           and
           to
           procure
           the
           condemnation
           of
           all
           his
           Disciples
           .
        
         
           It
           is
           not
           requisite
           that
           I
           should
           give
           you
           any
           account
           of
           the
           
             Roman
             Catholicks
          
           ,
           it
           being
           notorious
           to
           all
           the
           World
           ,
           what
           their
           Sentiments
           are
           .
        
         
           You
           know
           also
           ,
           what
           the
           Opinions
           of
           the
           Lutherans
           are
           .
           The
           famous
           Confession
           which
           they
           made
           at
           Ausbourg
           ,
           in
           the
           Year
           1530
           ,
           has
           made
           a
           sufficient
           discovery
           of
           them
           to
           all
           the
           World.
           True
           it
           is
           ,
           that
           most
           of
           their
           Doctors
           have
           Opinions
           very
           different
           from
           their
           first
           Confession
           .
           They
           are
           divided
           amongst
           themselves
           ,
           upon
           the
           score
           of
           very
           disconsonant
           Sentiments
           .
           But
           as
           that
           diversity
           is
           found
           only
           in
           those
           of
           them
           who
           are
           in
           Germany
           ,
           I
           shall
           say
           nothing
           of
           it
           .
           They
           who
           are
           in
           this
           Country
           ,
           keep
           closely
           enough
           to
           the
           Sentiment
           of
           their
           first
           Doctor
           .
           Only
           observe
           here
           ,
           in
           what
           they
           differ
           from
           those
           who
           are
           in
           
             Germany
             ,
             Denmark
          
           ,
           and
           Sweden
           .
           They
           do
           not
           use
           Auricular
           Confession
           ;
           Th●y
           have
           neither
           Images
           ,
           nor
           Altars
           ,
           in
           their
           Churches
           ;
           Their
           Ministers
           wear
           no
           Sacerdotal
           habits
           ;
           They
           have
           not
           the
           several
           Orders
           of
           
             Priests
             ,
             Deacons
             ,
             Arch-Deacons
          
           ,
           and
           Superintendents
           ,
           or
           Bishops
           ,
           as
           they
           have
           in
           most
           other
           Parts
           .
        
         
           The
           Arminians
           took
           their
           denomination
           from
           Arminius
           ,
           their
           first
           Doctor
           ,
           who
           was
           a
           famous
           Professor
           in
           the
           University
           of
           Leyden
           .
           They
           would
           rather
           be
           called
           Remonstrants
           ,
           by
           reason
           of
           the
           Book
           ,
           which
           they
           presented
           to
           the
           States-General
           ,
           in
           the
           Year
           1611.
           to
           which
           they
           had
           given
           the
           Title
           of
           Remonstrance
           ,
           and
           which
           comprehended
           the
           principal
           Articles
           of
           their
           Belief
           .
           You
           know
           the
           Five
           remarkable
           Points
           ,
           upon
           which
           they
           were
           condemn'd
           by
           the
           Synod
           of
           Dort
           ,
           held
           in
           the
           Year
           1618
           ,
           in
           which
           were
           present
           some
           Divines
           of
           your
           Cantons
           ,
           as
           also
           out
           of
           several
           Countries
           professing
           the
           
             Reformed
             Religion
          
           ,
           as
           
             England
             ,
             Germany
          
           ,
           and
           other
           plac●s
           .
           After
           the
           death
           of
           Arminius
           ,
           and
           in
           the
           time
           of
           Vorstius
           ,
           and
           of
           Episcopius
           ,
           a
           most
           Eminent
           Doctor
           amongst
           them
           ,
           they
           adopted
           many
           Errours
           of
           the
           Socinians
           .
           Nay
           most
           of
           them
           have
           deserted
           the
           Opinion
           of
           their
           first
           Master
           ,
           upon
           the
           Point
           of
           Predestination
           ,
           and
           Eternal
           
             Election
             .
             Arminius
          
           had
           taught
           ,
           That
           God
           had
           Elected
           the
           Faithful
           ,
           by
           the
           prevision
           of
           their
           Faith.
           And
           Episcopius
           is
           of
           Opinion
           ,
           That
           God
           has
           not
           Elected
           
           any
           one
           from
           all
           Eternity
           ,
           but
           that
           he
           does
           Elect
           the
           Faithful
           ,
           in
           time
           ,
           when
           they
           actually
           Believe
           .
           He
           speaks
           only
           in
           very
           doubtful
           and
           ambiguous
           terms
           of
           the
           Prescience
           of
           God
           ,
           which
           was
           the
           great
           Fortress
           ,
           in
           which
           Arminius
           secur'd
           himself
           .
           These
           same
           Arminians
           of
           the
           present
           time
           believe
           ,
           That
           the
           Doctrine
           of
           the
           Trinity
           of
           Persons
           ,
           in
           One
           only
           Essence
           ,
           is
           not
           necessary
           to
           Salvation
           ;
           That
           there
           is
           not
           any
           Precept
           in
           the
           Scripture
           ,
           by
           which
           we
           are
           commanded
           to
           adore
           the
           Holy
           Ghost
           ;
           nor
           any
           Example
           ,
           or
           Indication
           ,
           by
           which
           it
           appears
           ,
           that
           the
           Holy
           Ghost
           has
           been
           ador'd
           ;
           That
           
             Jesus
             Christ
          
           is
           not
           a
           God
           equal
           to
           the
           Father
           ;
           That
           Faith
           in
           
             Jesus
             Christ
          
           ,
           by
           which
           we
           are
           saved
           ,
           hath
           not
           been
           commanded
           ,
           nor
           took
           any
           place
           under
           the
           Old
           Covenant
           .
           Most
           of
           them
           do
           make
           it
           their
           study
           to
           avoid
           that
           Expression
           of
           the
           Satisfaction
           of
           
             Jesus
             Christ
             .
             Episcopius
          
           ,
           in
           the
           mean
           time
           affirms
           ,
           That
           
             Jesus
             Christ
          
           has
           ,
           by
           his
           Passion
           and
           Death
           ,
           so
           far
           satisfy'd
           God
           ,
           as
           to
           render
           him
           Propitious
           to
           all
           Mankind
           ,
           and
           ready
           ,
           henceforwards
           ,
           to
           receive
           all
           men
           into
           his
           Communion
           ;
           provided
           they
           ,
           by
           Faith
           ,
           embrace
           that
           Propitiation
           of
           
             Jesus
             Christ
          
           ;
           So
           that
           God
           being
           no
           longer
           displeas'd
           ,
           there
           is
           no
           Enmity
           remaining
           ,
           but
           what
           proceeds
           from
           Men
           ,
           refusing
           to
           entertain
           the
           grace
           of
           
             Jesus
             Christ
          
           .
           They
           very
           earnestly
           press
           the
           Toleration
           of
           all
           the
           Opinions
           of
           those
           who
           profess
           Christian
           Religion
           ;
           maintaining
           ,
           That
           all
           Christians
           agree
           in
           the
           most
           Important
           ,
           and
           ,
           such
           as
           they
           call
           ,
           the
           most
           Essential
           and
           Fundamental
           Points
           of
           Religion
           ;
           That
           it
           has
           not
           been
           hitherto
           decided
           ,
           by
           an
           Infallible
           Judgment
           ,
           who
           they
           are
           amongst
           the
           Christians
           ,
           who
           have
           embrac'd
           the
           Truest
           and
           Purest
           Religion
           ,
           and
           such
           as
           is
           most
           conformable
           to
           the
           Word
           of
           God
           ;
           That
           to
           the
           effect
           all
           may
           be
           mutually
           united
           ,
           to
           make
           up
           one
           and
           the
           same
           Body
           or
           Church
           ,
           and
           that
           they
           ought
           to
           love
           one
           another
           as
           Brethren
           ,
           and
           not
           to
           have
           any
           enmity
           or
           animosity
           one
           against
           another
           ,
           upon
           the
           score
           of
           their
           dissenting
           in
           some
           Points
           of
           Religion
           ,
           especially
           such
           as
           are
           not
           of
           the
           most
           considerable
           .
           That
           men
           ought
           not
           to
           force
           any
           one
           to
           condemn
           ,
           and
           renounce
           his
           own
           Sentiments
           ,
           or
           to
           approve
           and
           follow
           those
           of
           another
           .
           They
           say
           ,
           That
           heretofore
           amongst
           the
           Jews
           ,
           the
           Pharisees
           ,
           the
           Sadduces
           ,
           and
           the
           Esseni
           ,
           of
           whom
           the
           Sects
           were
           very
           different
           ,
           and
           had
           most
           dangerous
           Opinions
           ,
           were
           however
           tolerated
           by
           the
           Jews
           ,
           and
           all
           receiv'd
           into
           the
           Temple
           ,
           to
           present
           thei●
           Sacrifices
           and
           Prayers
           to
           God
           ,
           and
           to
           perform
           all
           the
           other
           Functions
           of
           Religion
           .
           If
           Arminius
           were
           to
           come
           into
           
           the
           World
           again
           ,
           certainly
           ,
           he
           would
           not
           own
           most
           of
           those
           who
           bear
           his
           Name
           ,
           to
           be
           his
           Disciples
           .
           And
           yet
           there
           are
           some
           amongst
           them
           ,
           who
           have
           not
           added
           any
           thing
           to
           his
           Sentiments
           .
           But
           they
           all
           agree
           in
           this
           point
           ,
           That
           all
           Christians
           ought
           to
           be
           Tolerated
           ;
           either
           that
           all-together
           they
           might
           make
           up
           but
           one
           and
           the
           same
           Church
           ,
           or
           that
           every
           one
           may
           be
           allow'd
           the
           liberty
           of
           his
           Religion
           .
        
         
           The
           Brownists
           have
           many
           great
           Assemblies
           in
           the
           Low-Countries
           .
           They
           are
           a
           sort
           of
           people
           separated
           from
           the
           English
           Church
           ,
           and
           from
           all
           the
           other
           Reformed
           Churches
           ,
           which
           they
           think
           to
           be
           corrupted
           ,
           not
           as
           to
           the
           Doctrinal
           Points
           of
           Faith
           ,
           concurring
           in
           that
           respect
           ,
           with
           those
           of
           the
           Reformed
           Religion
           of
           
             Holland
             ,
             Germany
          
           ,
           and
           other
           places
           ,
           but
           as
           to
           the
           Form
           of
           Government
           .
           They
           equally
           condemn
           Episcopal
           Government
           ,
           and
           that
           of
           the
           Presbyterians
           ,
           by
           
             Consistories
             ,
             Classes
          
           ,
           and
           Synods
           .
           They
           will
           not
           joyn
           with
           our
           Churches
           ,
           for
           this
           reason
           ,
           as
           they
           say
           ,
           that
           they
           are
           not
           assur'd
           of
           the
           Conversion
           ,
           and
           Probity
           of
           the
           Members
           ,
           whereof
           they
           consist
           ,
           because
           they
           therein
           suffer
           Sinners
           ,
           with
           whom
           men
           ought
           not
           to
           communicate
           ;
           and
           that
           in
           the
           participation
           of
           the
           Sacraments
           ,
           the
           good
           contract
           impurity
           in
           the
           Communion
           of
           the
           wicked
           .
           They
           condemn
           the
           benediction
           of
           the
           Marriages
           ,
           which
           are
           celebrated
           in
           Churches
           by
           the
           Ministers
           ,
           maintaining
           ,
           That
           ,
           being
           a
           Political
           Contract
           ,
           the
           confirmation
           of
           it
           depends
           on
           the
           Civil
           Magistrate
           .
           They
           would
           not
           have
           their
           Children
           to
           be
           baptiz'd
           ,
           who
           are
           not
           Members
           of
           the
           Church
           ,
           or
           are
           not
           as
           careful
           ,
           as
           they
           ought
           to
           be
           ,
           of
           the
           Children
           that
           have
           been
           baptiz'd
           .
           They
           reject
           all
           Forms
           of
           Prayers
           ;
           nay
           they
           affirm
           ,
           That
           the
           Prayer
           ,
           which
           our
           Lord
           has
           taught
           us
           ,
           ought
           not
           to
           be
           recited
           as
           a
           Prayer
           ,
           but
           that
           it
           was
           given
           us
           to
           be
           the
           Rule
           and
           Model
           ,
           by
           which
           we
           ought
           to
           frame
           all
           those
           ,
           which
           we
           present
           to
           God.
           They
           reject
           the
           Use
           of
           Bells
           ,
           and
           Churches
           ,
           especially
           such
           as
           they
           say
           had
           been
           Consecrated
           to
           Idolatry
           .
        
         
           The
           Independents
           are
           a
           brood
           of
           the
           
             Brownists
             .
             John
             Robinson
          
           ,
           an
           English
           man
           ,
           is
           the
           Father
           of
           all
           those
           who
           are
           in
           this
           Country
           .
           They
           believe
           ,
           That
           every
           Church
           ,
           or
           ,
           as
           they
           call
           it
           ,
           every
           particular
           Congregation
           ,
           has
           in
           it self
           ,
           radically
           ,
           and
           essentially
           ,
           whatever
           is
           for
           its
           conduct
           and
           government
           ,
           and
           all
           Ecclesiastical
           Power
           and
           Jurisdiction
           .
           That
           such
           a
           Church
           ,
           or
           Congregation
           ,
           
           is
           not
           subject
           either
           to
           one
           ,
           or
           more
           Churches
           ,
           or
           to
           their
           Deputies
           ,
           or
           Assemblies
           ,
           or
           Synods
           ,
           or
           to
           any
           Bishop
           ;
           Or
           that
           any
           one
           Church
           ,
           or
           Assembly
           has
           any
           power
           over
           any
           other
           Church
           whatsoever
           .
           That
           every
           particular
           Church
           ought
           to
           manage
           its
           own
           affairs
           ,
           without
           any
           dependence
           on
           any
           other
           ;
           and
           hence
           it
           comes
           ,
           that
           such
           as
           follow
           these
           S●ntiments
           ,
           have
           the
           denomination
           of
           Independents
           .
           And
           though
           they
           do
           not
           think
           there
           is
           any
           necessity
           of
           assembling
           Synods
           ,
           yet
           they
           affirm
           ,
           That
           if
           any
           be
           assembled
           ,
           there
           ought
           to
           be
           a
           consideration
           of
           their
           resolutions
           ,
           as
           of
           the
           counsels
           of
           wise
           and
           prudent
           men
           ,
           whereto
           a
           certain
           submission
           is
           due
           ;
           and
           not
           as
           definitions
           ,
           and
           establishments
           ,
           requiring
           conformity
           and
           obedience
           .
           They
           are
           willing
           to
           acknowledge
           ,
           that
           one
           or
           more
           Churches
           may
           be
           assistant
           to
           another
           Church
           ,
           as
           to
           advice
           ,
           and
           admonition
           ;
           nay
           that
           they
           may
           reprove
           it
           ,
           if
           there
           be
           any
           offence
           ;
           yet
           not
           upon
           the
           account
           of
           any
           superiour
           authority
           ,
           which
           has
           any
           power
           of
           Excommunication
           ,
           but
           as
           a
           Sister-Church
           ,
           declaring
           ,
           That
           she
           cannot
           have
           any
           communion
           with
           such
           a
           Church
           as
           hath
           offended
           ,
           and
           does
           not
           demean
           her self
           ,
           according
           to
           the
           Rules
           and
           Commandements
           of
           
             Jesus
             Christ
          
           .
        
         
           And
           these
           are
           the
           Particular
           Sentiments
           of
           the
           Independents
           ,
           in
           reference
           to
           the
           Government
           of
           the
           Church
           .
           Their
           very
           Name
           had
           render'd
           them
           very
           odious
           even
           to
           the
           Protestants
           ;
           but
           the
           Confession
           of
           Faith
           ,
           which
           their
           Brethren
           of
           England
           publish'd
           ,
           when
           they
           assembled
           at
           London
           ,
           in
           the
           Year
           1651.
           has
           made
           it
           appear
           ,
           That
           they
           have
           not
           otherwise
           any
           particular
           sentiment
           ,
           as
           to
           matter
           of
           Doctrine
           ,
           but
           that
           in
           reference
           to
           that
           ,
           they
           concurre
           in
           all
           things
           with
           those
           of
           the
           Reformed
           Religion
           .
           I
           have
           hitherto
           given
           you
           an
           account
           of
           but
           Three
           or
           Four
           different
           Religions
           ,
           or
           rather
           Persuasions
           ;
           but
           this
           Letter
           being
           come
           to
           a
           considerable
           Length
           ,
           I
           will
           adjourn
           what
           I
           have
           to
           say
           of
           the
           other
           Sects
           of
           this
           Countrey
           ,
           to
           the
           next
           opportunity
           I
           shall
           have
           to
           write
           to
           you
           ,
           remaining
           ,
           in
           the
           mean
           time
           ,
        
         
           
             Reverend
             S●r
             ,
             Your
             most
             humble
             ,
             &c.
             
          
        
      
       
         
         
           The
           Third
           LETTER
           .
        
         
           
             Reverend
             Sir
             ,
          
        
         
           I
           Am
           now
           ,
           according
           to
           my
           promise
           ,
           to
           give
           you
           an
           account
           of
           all
           the
           different
           Sects
           ,
           or
           Religions
           ,
           which
           are
           in
           this
           Country
           .
           They
           ,
           who
           ,
           in
           other
           places
           are
           called
           Anabaptists
           ,
           are
           known
           ,
           in
           these
           Provinces
           ,
           by
           the
           denomination
           of
           Mennonites
           ,
           and
           have
           deriv'd
           that
           Name
           from
           Menno
           ,
           a
           Man
           born
           at
           a
           Village
           of
           Friezland
           ,
           in
           the
           Year
           1496.
           
           Not
           that
           the
           said
           Menno
           was
           the
           first
           Father
           of
           the
           Anabaptists
           in
           this
           Country
           ;
           but
           that
           he
           ,
           having
           rejected
           the
           Enthusiasmes
           and
           Revelations
           of
           the
           Primitive
           Anabaptists
           ,
           and
           their
           Opinions
           concerning
           the
           new
           Reign
           of
           
             Jesus
             Christ
          
           ,
           which
           they
           pretended
           to
           establish
           upon
           Earth
           by
           force
           of
           Arms
           ,
           has
           broach'd
           certain
           new
           doctrines
           ,
           which
           his
           Followers
           have
           embrac'd
           ,
           and
           persisted
           in
           to
           this
           day
           .
        
         
           Their
           Tenets
           are
           these
           ;
           That
           the
           New
           Testament
           only
           ,
           and
           not
           the
           Old
           ,
           ought
           to
           be
           the
           Rule
           of
           our
           Faith.
           
        
         
           That
           in
           speaking
           of
           the
           Father
           ,
           the
           Son
           ,
           and
           the
           
             Holy
             Ghost
          
           ,
           there
           is
           no
           necessity
           of
           using
           the
           terms
           of
           Persons
           ,
           or
           the
           Trinity
           .
        
         
           That
           the
           first
           Productions
           of
           the
           Creation
           ,
           as
           to
           Mankind
           ,
           were
           not
           created
           in
           a
           state
           of
           Justice
           and
           Holiness
           .
        
         
           That
           there
           is
           no
           such
           thing
           as
           Original
           Sin.
           
        
         
           That
           
             Jesus
             Christ
          
           did
           not
           take
           Flesh
           of
           the
           substance
           of
           his
           Mother
           ,
           Mary
           ,
           but
           of
           the
           Essence
           of
           the
           Father
           ;
           or
           that
           the
           Word
           was
           changed
           into
           Man
           ,
           or
           that
           he
           brought
           it
           from
           Heaven
           ,
           or
           that
           it
           is
           not
           known
           whence
           he
           took
           it
           .
        
         
         
           That
           the
           Union
           of
           the
           Divine
           Nature
           with
           the
           Humane
           ,
           in
           
             Jesus
             Christ
          
           ,
           was
           so
           made
           ,
           that
           the
           Divine
           Nature
           was
           render'd
           visible
           ,
           subject
           to
           Suffering
           ,
           and
           death
           .
        
         
           That
           it
           is
           not
           lawful
           for
           Christians
           to
           swear
           ,
           to
           exercise
           any
           charge
           of
           Civil
           Magistracy
           ,
           or
           to
           make
           Use
           of
           the
           Sword
           ,
           not
           even
           to
           punish
           the
           wicked
           ,
           or
           to
           oppose
           force
           with
           force
           ,
           or
           to
           engage
           in
           a
           War
           ,
           upon
           any
           account
           ,
           or
           occasion
           .
        
         
           That
           a
           man
           may
           ,
           in
           this
           life
           ,
           come
           to
           that
           pitch
           of
           Perfection
           ,
           as
           to
           have
           an
           accomplish'd
           Purity
           ,
           and
           to
           be
           without
           any
           defilement
           of
           Sin.
           
        
         
           That
           it
           is
           not
           lawful
           for
           the
           Ministers
           of
           the
           Word
           to
           receive
           any
           Salary
           of
           their
           Churches
           ,
           for
           the
           Pains
           they
           take
           .
        
         
           That
           little
           Children
           ought
           not
           to
           be
           baptiz'd
           .
        
         
           That
           the
           Souls
           of
           men
           ,
           after
           their
           death
           ,
           rest
           in
           an
           unknown
           place
           ,
           till
           the
           day
           of
           Judgment
           .
        
         
           These
           Mennonites
           are
           divided
           into
           several
           Sects
           ,
           upon
           very
           slight
           occasions
           .
           Of
           these
           Sects
           ,
           there
           are
           two
           of
           a
           considerable
           standing
           ,
           whereof
           one
           is
           that
           of
           the
           ancient
           Mennonites
           of
           Flanders
           ;
           The
           other
           ,
           that
           of
           the
           Mennonites
           of
           Friezland
           .
           Those
           of
           Flanders
           exercise
           Ecclesiastical
           discipline
           ,
           with
           extraordinary
           severity
           ,
           and
           excommunicate
           those
           of
           their
           Sects
           ,
           for
           very
           trivial
           miscarriages
           .
           They
           are
           of
           a
           persuasion
           ,
           That
           it
           is
           not
           lawful
           to
           eat
           ,
           or
           drink
           ,
           or
           to
           have
           any
           communication
           ,
           no
           ,
           not
           as
           to
           the
           Concerns
           of
           a
           Civil
           Life
           ,
           with
           those
           who
           are
           Excommunicated
           .
           They
           ,
           by
           that
           means
           ,
           make
           a
           division
           between
           Husbands
           ,
           and
           their
           Wives
           ;
           Children
           ,
           and
           their
           Parents
           ;
           maintaining
           ,
           That
           all
           the
           Obligations
           of
           Friendship
           and
           Society
           are
           to
           be
           cancell'd
           with
           those
           ,
           whom
           the
           Church
           has
           anathematiz'd
           .
        
         
           Those
           of
           Friezland
           receive
           into
           their
           Communion
           such
           as
           have
           been
           rejected
           by
           the
           other
           Sects
           of
           the
           Mennonites
           ;
           and
           they
           exercise
           so
           great
           a
           relaxation
           in
           their
           discipline
           ,
           that
           they
           entertain
           all
           sorts
           of
           polluted
           persons
           into
           their
           society
           ;
           and
           for
           that
           reason
           are
           they
           called
           Borboritae
           ,
           or
           Stereorarii
           .
           But
           as
           there
           are
           ,
           even
           
           amongst
           them
           ,
           some
           more
           scrupulous
           than
           others
           ,
           so
           they
           also
           are
           parcell'd
           into
           divers
           S●cts
           ,
           upon
           very
           slight
           ,
           and
           trivial
           occasions
           .
           I
           shall
           only
           give
           an
           account
           of
           one
           ,
           by
           which
           a
           judgment
           may
           be
           made
           of
           the
           rest
           .
           There
           is
           one
           Sect
           of
           them
           called
           Mamillarii
           ,
           upon
           this
           score
           ,
           That
           a
           Young
           Man
           had
           taken
           the
           freedom
           to
           put
           his
           hand
           into
           a
           Young
           Maids
           Bosome
           ,
           whom
           he
           was
           then
           courting
           ,
           and
           ,
           within
           a
           few
           dayes
           ,
           to
           marry
           .
           Some
           amongst
           them
           maintain'd
           ,
           That
           he
           ought
           to
           be
           Excommunicated
           ;
           and
           others
           condemning
           that
           severity
           ,
           there
           happ●n'd
           a
           Schisme
           .
           They
           ,
           who
           would
           not
           have
           the
           Young
           Man
           to
           be
           Excommunicated
           ,
           were
           called
           Mamillarii
           .
           There
           are
           daily
           divisions
           ,
           and
           separations
           amongst
           them
           ;
           and
           assoon
           as
           they
           chance
           to
           be
           ejected
           out
           of
           one
           Society
           ,
           they
           find
           a
           reception
           in
           some
           other
           .
        
         
           Many
           amongst
           the
           Mennonites
           have
           embrac'd
           most
           of
           the
           Opinions
           of
           the
           Socinians
           ,
           or
           rather
           those
           of
           the
           Arrians
           ,
           concerning
           the
           Divinity
           of
           
             Jesus
             Christ
          
           .
           They
           generally
           press
           that
           Toleration
           of
           all
           Sects
           ,
           which
           is
           so
           earnestly
           recommended
           by
           the
           Arminians
           .
           It
           is
           their
           persuasion
           ,
           That
           they
           ought
           not
           to
           expell
           ▪
           out
           of
           their
           assemblies
           ,
           any
           man
           who
           leads
           a
           devout
           life
           ,
           and
           acknowledges
           ,
           That
           the
           Holy
           Scripture
           is
           the
           Word
           of
           God
           ,
           though
           the
           same
           Man
           does
           not
           agree
           with
           the
           others
           ,
           in
           many
           things
           which
           are
           accounted
           Articles
           of
           Faith.
           These
           last
           are
           ,
           by
           the
           others
           ,
           called
           Galenists
           ,
           taking
           their
           name
           form
           one
           Galenus
           ,
           a
           Physician
           of
           Amsterdam
           ,
           a
           very
           Eloquent
           ,
           Learned
           ,
           and
           well-Experienc'd
           Man
           and
           one
           who
           is
           charged
           to
           be
           an
           absolute
           Socinian
           .
        
         
           The
           Socinians
           deny
           the
           Divinity
           of
           
             Jesus
             Christ
          
           ,
           the
           Existence
           of
           the
           Holy
           Ghost
           ,
           Origina
           Sin
           ,
           the
           Satisfaction
           of
           
             Jesus
             Christ
          
           ,
           the
           Resurrection
           of
           the
           Reprobate
           ,
           and
           the
           Reassumption
           of
           the
           same
           Bodies
           which
           the
           Faithful
           had
           ,
           during
           their
           abode
           in
           this
           World.
           Their
           publi●k
           Ass●mbli●s
           are
           forbidden
           ,
           but
           they
           lurk
           under
           the
           names
           of
           Arminians
           and
           Anabaptists
           .
           They
           have
           also
           their
           secret
           Assemblies
           ,
           in
           which
           they
           are
           very
           fervent
           in
           Prayer
           to
           God
           ,
           with
           groaning
           and
           weeping
           .
           They
           make
           it
           their
           Comp●a●nt
           ,
           That
           they
           are
           odious
           to
           ,
           and
           abominated
           by
           most
           Christians
           ,
           upon
           the
           score
           of
           the
           doctrine
           which
           they
           profess
           .
           They
           affirm
           ,
           Th●t
           they
           have
           not
           Interest
           in
           the
           maintaining
           of
           it
           ,
           save
           only
           the
           P●rsuasion
           they
           have
           of
           its
           truth
           ,
           and
           the
           zeal
           of
           appropriating
           to
           its
           only
           individual
           ,
           and
           Sovereign
           God
           ,
           the
           Father
           of
           our
           Lord
           
           
             Jesus
             Christ
          
           ,
           the
           glory
           of
           his
           Divinity
           .
           They
           are
           further
           of
           opinion
           ,
           that
           having
           been
           confirm'd
           in
           their
           Faith
           by
           the
           reading
           of
           the
           Word
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           by
           the
           Books
           which
           have
           been
           written
           against
           them
           ,
           they
           make
           it
           their
           earnest
           and
           humble
           Suit
           to
           that
           great
           God
           ,
           That
           ,
           if
           they
           are
           in
           any
           error
           ,
           he
           would
           discover
           it
           to
           them
           ,
           that
           they
           may
           renounce
           it
           ,
           and
           give
           his
           Truth
           the
           glory
           .
           Their
           conversation
           is
           holy
           and
           without
           reproach
           ,
           as
           far
           as
           men
           can
           judg
           by
           what
           they
           see
           ;
           and
           that
           conversation
           is
           absolutely
           modell'd
           according
           to
           the
           Precepts
           of
           
             Jesus
             Christ
          
           ;
           and
           it
           externally
           appears
           ,
           that
           since
           they
           are
           not
           much
           concern'd
           for
           the
           things
           of
           this
           World
           ,
           their
           care
           is
           the
           greater
           ,
           to
           perform
           the
           works
           of
           Devotion
           and
           Charity
           ,
           and
           to
           promote
           the
           Salvation
           of
           their
           Souls
           .
           They
           wholly
           employ
           themselves
           in
           the
           reading
           of
           the
           Word
           of
           God
           ,
           in
           which
           they
           are
           so
           well
           vers'd
           ,
           that
           most
           of
           them
           seem
           to
           have
           it
           by
           heart
           .
           In
           the
           Assemblies
           they
           make
           for
           their
           exercises
           of
           Piety
           ,
           all
           that
           are
           present
           have
           the
           liberty
           of
           speaking
           .
           One
           amongst
           them
           begins
           to
           read
           a
           Chapter
           of
           the
           Scripture
           ;
           and
           when
           he
           has
           read
           several
           Verses
           of
           it
           ,
           till
           he
           has
           come
           to
           a
           full
           Paragraph
           ,
           he
           who
           reads
           ,
           and
           they
           who
           hear
           ,
           do
           respectively
           give
           their
           Sentiments
           ,
           concerning
           the
           sence
           of
           the
           words
           ,
           which
           have
           been
           read
           to
           them
           .
           But
           what
           is
           most
           surprizing
           ,
           is
           ,
           that
           though
           the
           greatest
           part
           of
           them
           be
           illiterate
           ,
           and
           men
           of
           no
           study
           at
           all
           ,
           as
           being
           Merchants
           ,
           or
           Tradesmen
           ,
           yet
           they
           all
           seem
           to
           have
           a
           particular
           Talent
           ,
           for
           the
           understanding
           ,
           and
           exposition
           of
           the
           Holy
           Scripture
           .
           Nay
           it
           is
           reported
           ,
           that
           the
           Learned
           amongst
           them
           ,
           who
           have
           written
           Commentaries
           ,
           or
           Annotations
           ,
           upon
           the
           Holy
           Scripture
           ,
           have
           every
           where
           done
           very
           well
           ,
           save
           only
           in
           those
           places
           ,
           where
           their
           own
           prejudgments
           have
           engag'd
           them
           to
           accommodate
           the
           Scripture
           to
           their
           own
           Erroneous
           Sence
           .
           So
           that
           it
           may
           be
           said
           of
           them
           ,
           as
           I
           think
           I
           have
           heard
           it
           heretofore
           said
           ,
           of
           
             Origen
             ,
             Vbi
             benè
             ,
             nemo
             meliùs
             ,
             ubi
             malè
             ,
             nemo
             pejùs
             ;
             Where
             he
             had
             done
             well
             ,
             no
             man
             could
             have
             done
             better
             ;
             and
             where
             he
             had
             done
             ill
             ,
             no
             man
             could
             do
             worse
             .
          
        
         
           Having
           given
           you
           this
           Summary
           account
           of
           the
           Socinians
           ,
           my
           next
           work
           is
           to
           give
           you
           that
           of
           the
           Arrians
           .
           Those
           last
           are
           very
           numerous
           in
           this
           Country
           ,
           and
           many
           amongst
           the
           Socinians
           have
           embrac'd
           their
           Opinions
           .
           You
           know
           what
           were
           the
           Sentiments
           of
           the
           Arrians
           ,
           concerning
           the
           Birth
           of
           
             Jesus
             Christ
          
           .
           They
           believ'd
           ,
           That
           the
           Word
           ,
           the
           Intellect
           ,
           and
           the
           
             Word
             of
             God
          
           ,
           had
           
           had
           been
           created
           before
           all
           the
           Creatures
           ;
           That
           God
           had
           made
           Use
           of
           it
           ,
           in
           the
           old
           Testament
           ,
           as
           of
           an
           Interpreter
           of
           a
           Mediator
           ,
           when
           he
           had
           something
           to
           declare
           ,
           to
           the
           Patriaerchs
           and
           Prophets
           .
           That
           that
           word
           ,
           had
           ,
           by
           a
           voluntary
           annihilation
           ,
           animated
           the
           Body
           of
           Jesus
           Christ
           ,
           as
           the
           Spirit
           of
           Man
           animates
           his
           Body
           ,
           the
           Word
           having
           taken
           Flesh
           only
           ,
           without
           Soul
           ,
           and
           without
           Spirit
           .
           Nay
           they
           were
           also
           of
           a
           persuasion
           ,
           That
           all
           the
           Souls
           of
           other
           men
           were
           Spirits
           ,
           subsisting
           before
           the
           Bodies
           ,
           and
           that
           they
           assum'd
           not
           the
           name
           of
           Souls
           ,
           till
           such
           time
           as
           they
           actually
           animated
           their
           Bodies
           .
           
             Christopher
             Sandius
          
           ,
           a
           Gentleman
           of
           Poland
           ,
           Son
           to
           a
           Councellor
           of
           the
           Elector
           of
           Brandeburgh
           ,
           was
           the
           Restaurator
           of
           the
           Arrian
           Sect
           in
           this
           Country
           .
           His
           habitation
           ,
           for
           some
           Years
           past
           ,
           has
           been
           at
           Amsterdam
           .
           Among
           other
           works
           ,
           he
           has
           written
           two
           Books
           which
           I
           have
           seen
           ,
           whereof
           one
           is
           entituled
           ,
           
             The
             Paradoxall
             Interpretations
             of
             the
             Four
             Evangelists
             .
          
           The
           other
           is
           ,
           
             An
             Ecclesiastical
             History
          
           ,
           in
           which
           he
           proves
           ,
           or
           pretends
           to
           prove
           ;
           
             That
             all
             the
             Doctors
             ,
             commonly
             called
             the
          
           Fathers
           of
           the
           Church
           ,
           
             who
             flourish'd
             from
             the
             time
             of
             the
             Apostles
             ,
             to
             that
             of
          
           Arrius
           ,
           
             had
             the
             same
             Sentiments
             as
             he
             had
             ,
             concerning
             the
             Mystery
             of
             the
             Trinity
             .
          
        
         
           The
           Borrellists
           had
           their
           name
           from
           one
           Borrell
           ,
           the
           Ringleader
           of
           their
           Sect
           ,
           a
           man
           very
           Learned
           ,
           especially
           in
           the
           
             Hebrew
             ,
             Greek
          
           ,
           and
           Latine
           Tongues
           .
           He
           was
           Brother
           to
           Monsieur
           Borrell
           ,
           Ambassador
           from
           the
           States-General
           ,
           to
           his
           most
           Christian
           Majesty
           .
           These
           Borrelists
           do
           ,
           for
           the
           most
           part
           ,
           maintain
           the
           Opinions
           of
           the
           Mennonites
           ,
           though
           they
           come
           not
           to
           their
           Assemblies
           .
           They
           have
           made
           choice
           of
           a
           most
           austere
           kind
           of
           Life
           ,
           spending
           a
           considerable
           part
           of
           their
           Estates
           ,
           in
           Alms-giving
           ,
           and
           a
           careful
           discharge
           of
           all
           the
           Duties
           incumbent
           upon
           a
           Christian
           .
           They
           have
           an
           aversion
           for
           all
           Churches
           ,
           as
           also
           for
           the
           Use
           of
           the
           Sacrament
           ,
           publick
           Prayers
           ,
           and
           all
           other
           external
           Functions
           of
           God's
           Service
           .
           They
           maintain
           ,
           That
           all
           the
           Churches
           which
           are
           in
           the
           World
           ,
           and
           have
           been
           ever
           since
           the
           death
           of
           the
           Apostles
           ,
           and
           their
           first
           subsequent
           Successors
           ,
           have
           degenerated
           from
           the
           pure
           Doctrine
           which
           they
           had
           Preach'd
           to
           the
           World
           ;
           for
           this
           reason
           ,
           That
           they
           have
           suffered
           the
           infallible
           word
           of
           God
           ,
           contain'd
           in
           the
           Old
           and
           New
           Testament
           ,
           to
           be
           expounded
           and
           corrupted
           ,
           by
           Doctors
           ,
           who
           are
           not
           infallible
           ,
           and
           would
           have
           their
           own
           Confessions
           ,
           their
           Catechisms
           ,
           and
           their
           Liturgies
           ,
           and
           their
           Sermons
           ,
           which
           are
           the
           works
           of
           m●n
           ,
           to
           pass
           for
           what
           they
           really
           are
           not
           ,
           to
           wit
           ,
           for
           
           the
           pure
           word
           of
           God.
           They
           hold
           also
           ,
           That
           men
           are
           not
           to
           read
           any
           thing
           but
           the
           word
           of
           God
           alone
           ,
           without
           any
           additional
           explication
           of
           men
           .
           Another
           persuasion
           they
           have
           ,
           is
           ,
           That
           if
           there
           should
           be
           any
           Assembly
           ,
           wherein
           men
           would
           content
           themselves
           with
           the
           bare
           reading
           of
           the
           word
           of
           God
           (
           however
           the
           persons
           who
           might
           be
           desirous
           to
           be
           receiv'd
           into
           it
           ,
           may
           demean
           themselves
           )
           provided
           they
           acknowledg
           the
           Holy
           Scripture
           to
           be
           the
           Word
           of
           God
           ,
           they
           ought
           to
           be
           receiv'd
           into
           its
           Communion
           .
        
         
           The
           Enthusiasts
           ,
           or
           Quakers
           ,
           who
           affirm
           ,
           That
           what
           they
           say
           ,
           or
           do
           ,
           is
           by
           Divine
           Inspiration
           ,
           maintain
           ,
           That
           the
           Holy
           Scripture
           ought
           to
           be
           explicated
           ,
           according
           to
           the
           light
           of
           that
           Divine
           Inspiration
           ,
           without
           which
           it
           is
           but
           a
           dead
           Letter
           ,
           written
           to
           Children
           ,
           and
           not
           to
           perfect
           and
           spiritual
           men
           ;
           and
           that
           it
           is
           not
           the
           true
           ,
           only
           ,
           and
           perfect
           Word
           of
           God
           ,
           or
           the
           Compleat
           and
           Necessary
           Rule
           of
           Faith.
           They
           maintain
           ,
           That
           their
           own
           private
           Spirit
           is
           the
           true
           ,
           internal
           ,
           and
           spiritual
           Word
           of
           God
           ,
           the
           Rule
           and
           the
           Judg
           of
           the
           Scriptures
           :
           That
           men
           ought
           to
           hearken
           to
           ,
           and
           follow
           that
           Spirit
           ,
           and
           not
           the
           words
           of
           the
           Scripture
           .
           That
           a
           man
           has
           ,
           within
           himself
           ,
           and
           in
           his
           own
           Spirit
           ,
           an
           infallible
           Teacher
           ,
           who
           ,
           if
           he
           hearkens
           to
           him
           ,
           will
           inform
           him
           of
           all
           he
           is
           to
           believe
           ,
           or
           do
           ,
           in
           orer
           to
           his
           Salvation
           .
           That
           they
           who
           hearken
           to
           that
           Spirit
           are
           united
           to
           God
           ,
           and
           that
           such
           union
           makes
           them
           Gods.
           When
           they
           are
           in
           their
           Assemblies
           ,
           they
           continue
           a
           long
           time
           in
           a
           sitting
           posture
           ,
           without
           speaking
           ,
           and
           many
           times
           without
           so
           much
           as
           stirring
           ,
           for
           the
           space
           of
           one
           or
           two
           hours
           ;
           and
           there
           is
           nothing
           heard
           of
           them
           ,
           unless
           it
           be
           some
           sighs
           and
           groans
           ,
           till
           such
           time
           as
           some
           one
           among
           them
           ,
           feeling
           the
           agitation
           and
           stirring
           of
           the
           Spirit
           ,
           rises
           up
           ,
           and
           speaks
           the
           things
           which
           the
           Spirit
           commands
           him
           to
           speak
           .
           Nay
           many
           times
           ,
           the
           Women
           are
           sensible
           of
           those
           motions
           of
           the
           Spirit
           ,
           which
           occasion
           their
           speaking
           ,
           or
           holding
           forth
           ,
           in
           the
           Congregation
           of
           their
           Brethren
           .
           In
           their
           ordinary
           discourses
           ,
           they
           speak
           of
           their
           Ecstasies
           ,
           and
           Revelations
           ,
           and
           will
           be
           always
           sure
           ,
           to
           add
           very
           severe
           censures
           of
           all
           other
           Christians
           .
           They
           very
           vehemently
           declaim
           against
           Vices
           ,
           and
           with
           great
           earnestness
           press
           the
           mortification
           of
           the
           Flesh
           .
           They
           challenge
           all
           those
           who
           are
           in
           the
           Assembly
           ,
           and
           conjure
           them
           to
           speak
           ,
           if
           there
           be
           any
           one
           that
           has
           ought
           to
           object
           against
           what
           the
           Spirit
           has
           inspir'd
           them
           to
           deliver
           .
           And
           this
           occasions
           the
           frequent
           
           disputes
           and
           quarrels
           ,
           which
           happen
           amongst
           them
           .
           Nay
           it
           comes
           to
           pass
           sometimes
           ,
           that
           after
           they
           have
           for
           a
           good
           while
           expected
           the
           coming
           ,
           and
           inspiration
           of
           the
           Spirit
           ,
           not
           any
           one
           amongst
           them
           being
           sensible
           of
           its
           heat
           and
           motion
           in
           himself
           ,
           they
           depart
           from
           the
           place
           where
           they
           were
           Assembled
           ,
           without
           any
           one's
           having
           held
           forth
           .
        
         
           As
           to
           the
           Libertines
           ,
           they
           seem
           to
           have
           each
           of
           them
           his
           particular
           Sentiment
           to
           himself
           .
           But
           most
           of
           them
           are
           of
           this
           persuasion
           ,
           that
           there
           is
           only
           one
           Spirit
           of
           God
           ,
           which
           is
           universally
           diffus'd
           ,
           and
           lives
           in
           all
           Creatures
           .
           That
           the
           Substance
           and
           Immortality
           of
           our
           Souls
           ,
           is
           not
           any
           thing
           but
           that
           Spirit
           of
           God.
           That
           God
           himself
           is
           not
           any
           thing
           but
           that
           Spirit
           .
           That
           mens
           Souls
           die
           with
           their
           Bodies
           .
           That
           Sin
           is
           not
           any
           thing
           .
           That
           it
           is
           but
           a
           simple
           opinion
           ,
           which
           immediately
           vanishes
           ,
           provided
           there
           be
           no
           account
           made
           of
           it
           .
           That
           Paradise
           is
           but
           an
           illusion
           ,
           a
           pleasant
           Chimera
           ,
           which
           the
           Divines
           have
           invented
           ,
           to
           engage
           men
           ,
           to
           embrace
           that
           which
           they
           call
           Virtue
           .
           That
           Hell
           also
           is
           but
           a
           vain
           Fancy
           ,
           which
           the
           same
           Divines
           have
           fram'd
           ,
           to
           divert
           men
           from
           that
           which
           they
           call
           Sin
           ;
           that
           is
           to
           say
           ,
           to
           hinder
           them
           from
           being
           happy
           in
           doing
           what
           they
           please
           .
           They
           affirm
           ,
           in
           fine
           ,
           That
           Religion
           is
           only
           an
           invention
           of
           Politicians
           ,
           to
           keep
           the
           people
           ,
           by
           the
           fear
           of
           a
           Divinity
           ,
           in
           a
           subjection
           to
           their
           Laws
           ,
           in
           order
           to
           the
           better
           Regulation
           and
           Government
           of
           the
           Commonwealth
           .
        
         
           In
           short
           ,
           there
           are
           in
           this
           Country
           a
           vast
           number
           of
           persons
           ,
           as
           I
           know
           there
           were
           heretofore
           in
           England
           ,
           who
           go
           under
           the
           denomination
           of
           Seekers
           .
           It
           is
           the
           acknowledgment
           of
           these
           people
           ,
           That
           there
           is
           one
           true
           Religion
           ,
           which
           
             Jesus
             Christ
          
           has
           brought
           us
           from
           Heaven
           ,
           and
           which
           he
           has
           reveal'd
           to
           us
           in
           his
           Word
           ;
           but
           they
           maintain
           withal
           ,
           That
           that
           true
           Religion
           of
           
             Jesus
             Christ
          
           ,
           which
           we
           ought
           to
           profess
           ,
           in
           order
           to
           the
           attainment
           of
           Salvation
           ,
           is
           not
           any
           one
           of
           those
           Religions
           ,
           which
           are
           Establish'd
           amongst
           Christians
           .
           They
           have
           some
           particular
           exception
           to
           make
           against
           every
           one
           of
           those
           Religions
           ,
           and
           they
           condemn
           them
           all
           in
           general
           .
           In
           a
           word
           ,
           They
           have
           not
           pitch'd
           upon
           any
           one
           determinate
           Religion
           ,
           as
           being
           still
           concern'd
           upon
           the
           Seeking
           account
           .
           They
           read
           and
           meditate
           the
           Holy
           Scriptures
           with
           great
           attention
           .
           They
           pray
           to
           God
           with
           a
           fervent
           Zeal
           ,
           That
           he
           would
           illuminate
           them
           in
           the
           knowledg
           of
           that
           Religion
           ,
           which
           they
           ought
           to
           embrace
           ,
           
           in
           order
           to
           the
           serving
           of
           him
           according
           to
           his
           Will
           ,
           and
           for
           the
           acquest
           of
           that
           everlasting
           Felicity
           ,
           which
           he
           has
           promis'd
           his
           Children
           .
        
         
           I
           should
           not
           think
           ,
           that
           I
           have
           given
           you
           an
           account
           of
           all
           the
           Religions
           and
           Persuasions
           of
           this
           Country
           ,
           if
           I
           should
           omit
           the
           saying
           of
           a
           word
           ,
           or
           two
           ,
           of
           an
           Illustrious
           and
           Learned
           man
           ,
           who
           ,
           as
           I
           have
           be●n
           assur'd
           ,
           has
           a
           great
           number
           of
           Followers
           ,
           and
           those
           ,
           such
           as
           keep
           closely
           to
           his
           Sentiments
           .
           He
           is
           a
           man
           ,
           by
           birth
           a
           Jew
           ,
           whose
           name
           is
           Spinosa
           ,
           one
           that
           has
           not
           abjur'd
           the
           Religion
           of
           the
           
             Jews
             ▪
          
           nor
           embrac'd
           the
           Christian
           Religion
           :
           So
           that
           he
           continues
           still
           a
           most
           wicked
           Jew
           ,
           and
           has
           not
           the
           least
           tincture
           of
           Christianity
           .
           Some
           Years
           since
           he
           put
           forth
           a
           Book
           ,
           entituled
           ,
           
             Tractatus
             Theologo-Politicus
          
           ,
           wherein
           his
           principal
           design
           is
           ,
           to
           destroy
           all
           Religions
           ,
           and
           particularly
           the
           Jewish
           and
           the
           Christian
           ,
           and
           to
           introduce
           
             Atheisme
             ,
             Libertinisme
          
           ,
           and
           the
           free
           Toleration
           of
           all
           Religions
           .
           He
           maintains
           ,
           That
           they
           were
           all
           invented
           ,
           for
           the
           advantage
           and
           conveniences
           ,
           which
           the
           Publick
           receives
           thereby
           ,
           to
           the
           end
           that
           all
           persons
           subject
           to
           Government
           may
           live
           honestly
           ,
           and
           obey
           their
           Magistrates
           ,
           and
           that
           they
           may
           addict
           themselves
           to
           Virtue
           ,
           not
           out
           of
           the
           hope
           or
           expectation
           of
           any
           reward
           after
           death
           ,
           but
           for
           the
           intrinsick
           excellency
           of
           Virtue
           in
           it self
           ,
           and
           for
           the
           advantages
           which
           accrue
           to
           those
           who
           follow
           it
           ,
           in
           this
           life
           .
           He
           do●s
           not
           ,
           in
           that
           Book
           ,
           make
           an
           open
           discovery
           of
           the
           opinion
           which
           he
           has
           of
           the
           Divinity
           ,
           but
           he
           does
           however
           so
           far
           insinuate
           it
           ,
           as
           that
           we
           may
           guess
           at
           his
           meaning
           ,
           whereas
           in
           his
           Discourses
           ,
           he
           boldly
           affirms
           ,
           That
           God
           is
           not
           a
           Being
           endow'd
           with
           Intelligence
           ,
           Infinitely-Perfect
           ,
           and
           Blissful
           ,
           as
           we
           imagine
           him
           to
           be
           ;
           but
           that
           he
           is
           not
           any
           thing
           else
           ,
           but
           that
           Virtue
           of
           Nature
           ,
           which
           is
           diffus'd
           into
           all
           the
           Creatures
           .
        
         
           This
           Spinosa
           is
           now
           living
           in
           this
           Country
           .
           His
           Residence
           was
           ,
           for
           some
           time
           ,
           at
           the
           Hague
           ,
           where
           he
           was
           visited
           by
           the
           Virtuosi
           ,
           and
           all
           others
           who
           pretended
           to
           more
           then
           ordinary
           Curiosity
           ;
           nay
           by
           some
           young
           Ladies
           of
           Quality
           ,
           who
           pride
           themselves
           in
           being
           more
           ingenious
           ▪
           then
           is
           requisite
           for
           their
           Sex.
           His
           followers
           are
           somewhat
           cautious
           in
           discovering
           themselves
           ,
           because
           his
           Book
           ,
           before-mention'd
           ,
           does
           absolutely
           subvert
           the
           very
           Foundations
           of
           all
           Religions
           ,
           and
           has
           been
           condemn'd
           by
           a
           publick
           Edict
           of
           the
           States-General
           ,
           and
           a
           prohibition
           put
           upon
           the
           Sale
           of
           it
           ;
           and
           yet
           
           it
           is
           publickly
           Sold.
           Amongst
           all
           the
           Divines
           ,
           of
           whom
           there
           is
           a
           great
           number
           in
           this
           Country
           ,
           there
           has
           not
           stood
           up
           any
           one
           ,
           that
           has
           presum'd
           to
           write
           against
           the
           opinions
           which
           this
           Author
           advances
           in
           the
           afore-said
           Treatise
           .
           And
           I
           am
           the
           more
           surpriz'd
           thereat
           ,
           for
           this
           reason
           ,
           that
           the
           Author
           ,
           making
           a
           discovery
           of
           his
           great
           knowledg
           of
           the
           Hebrew
           Tongue
           ,
           as
           also
           of
           all
           the
           Ceremonies
           of
           the
           Jewish
           Religion
           ,
           of
           all
           the
           Customs
           of
           the
           Jews
           ,
           and
           of
           the
           Heathenish
           Philosophy
           ;
           the
           Divines
           of
           the
           Reformation
           cannot
           say
           ,
           but
           that
           the
           Book
           does
           well
           deserve
           ,
           that
           they
           should
           take
           the
           pains
           to
           refute
           it
           .
           For
           if
           they
           still
           continue
           silent
           ,
           men
           cannot
           forbear
           affirming
           ,
           that
           either
           they
           are
           defective
           in
           point
           of
           Charity
           ,
           in
           suffering
           so
           pernicious
           a
           Book
           to
           be
           scatter'd
           up
           and
           down
           without
           any
           Answer
           thereto
           ,
           or
           that
           they
           approve
           the
           Sentiments
           of
           that
           Author
           ;
           or
           that
           they
           have
           not
           the
           courage
           and
           abilities
           to
           oppose
           them
           .
        
         
           And
           thus
           ,
           Reverend
           Sir
           ,
           have
           I
           given
           you
           an
           acccount
           of
           the
           different
           Sects
           of
           Christians
           which
           are
           in
           this
           Country
           ,
           and
           which
           have
           all
           ,
           in
           a
           manner
           ,
           the
           freedom
           of
           Exercising
           the
           Religions
           which
           they
           profess
           .
           I
           leave
           you
           to
           make
           thereupon
           what
           reflections
           you
           shall
           think
           fit
           .
           It
           will
           be
           no
           hard
           matter
           for
           me
           ,
           to
           deduce
           ,
           from
           this
           diversity
           of
           Sects
           ,
           such
           convincing
           Reasons
           ,
           as
           shall
           prove
           what
           I
           have
           before
           advanced
           ,
           to
           wit
           ,
           
             That
             the
             States-General
             are
             not
             of
             our
             Reformed
             Religion
             .
          
           In
           the
           first
           place
           ,
           it
           cannot
           be
           affirmed
           ,
           that
           this
           State
           is
           of
           the
           Reformed
           Religion
           ,
           upon
           the
           score
           of
           the
           number
           of
           those
           who
           make
           profession
           of
           it
           .
           For
           ,
           though
           it
           cannot
           be
           precisely
           known
           ,
           what
           number
           there
           are
           of
           persons
           professing
           the
           Calvinistical
           way
           of
           Reformation
           ,
           which
           is
           commonly
           called
           the
           
             Reformed
             Religion
          
           ,
           in
           these
           Provinces
           ,
           yet
           this
           is
           still
           out
           of
           all
           question
           ,
           That
           the
           number
           of
           those
           who
           are
           not
           of
           it
           ,
           is
           incomparably
           greater
           than
           that
           of
           those
           who
           do
           profess
           it
           .
           Having
           thereupon
           consulted
           some
           of
           the
           Inhabitants
           ,
           they
           have
           assur'd
           me
           ,
           That
           there
           may
           be
           a
           Tripartite
           Division
           made
           of
           the
           people
           of
           these
           Provinces
           ,
           and
           that
           the
           three
           parts
           may
           be
           something
           towards
           an
           equality
           .
           The
           one
           is
           of
           the
           
             Reformed
             Religion
          
           ;
           another
           ,
           of
           the
           Roman-Catholicks
           ;
           and
           the
           third
           ,
           of
           the
           Sectaries
           .
           I
           should
           never
           have
           thought
           ,
           that
           the
           number
           of
           the
           Roman-Catholicks
           had
           been
           so
           great
           .
           It
           is
           certain
           ,
           that
           a
           considerable
           part
           of
           the
           Inhabitants
           of
           Great
           Cities
           ,
           and
           the
           greatest
           part
           of
           those
           of
           the
           Campaigne
           ,
           and
           of
           the
           Boors
           of
           that
           Country
           ,
           
           are
           Roman-Catholicks
           ;
           and
           there
           are
           assuredly
           at
           least
           as
           many
           of
           those
           of
           the
           
             Reformed
             Religion
          
           .
           And
           if
           we
           put
           together
           all
           the
           Sectaries
           ,
           they
           also
           ,
           doubtless
           ,
           make
           up
           a
           third
           part
           of
           the
           Inhabitants
           of
           these
           Provinces
           .
           If
           therefore
           the
           Domination
           ,
           and
           the
           Denomination
           ,
           ought
           to
           be
           deduc'd
           from
           the
           greatest
           part
           ,
           those
           of
           the
           
             Reformed
             Religion
          
           being
           ,
           at
           most
           ,
           but
           a
           third
           part
           of
           the
           people
           of
           this
           Country
           ,
           cannot
           give
           the
           whole
           State
           the
           Denomination
           of
           being
           of
           the
           
             Reformed
             Religion
          
           .
           It
           cannot
           therefore
           be
           such
           ,
           upon
           any
           other
           account
           than
           this
           ,
           that
           our
           
             Reformed
             Religion
          
           has
           been
           Establish'd
           ,
           and
           the
           others
           forbidden
           ,
           by
           the
           publick
           Edict
           before-mentioned
           .
           It
           might
           indeed
           be
           granted
           ,
           that
           it
           deserv'd
           that
           name
           ,
           if
           that
           Ordinance
           had
           been
           put
           in
           execution
           ;
           but
           that
           having
           not
           been
           executed
           ,
           the
           name
           cannot
           be
           justly
           given
           it
           .
           But
           that
           being
           a
           matter
           requiring
           much
           discussion
           ,
           I
           shall
           wave
           it
           at
           this
           time
           ,
           and
           make
           it
           the
           subject
           of
           my
           next
           to
           you
           ;
           and
           so
           I
           shall
           make
           no
           addition
           to
           this
           ,
           save
           only
           that
           of
           assuring
           you
           of
           my
           being
           ,
        
         
           
             Reverend
             Sir
             ,
             Your
             most
             humble
             ,
             &c.
             
          
           
             Vtrecht
             ,
             
               May
               7
               th
               .
               1673.
               
            
          
        
      
       
         
         
           The
           Fourth
           LETTER
           .
        
         
           
             Reverend
             Sir
             ,
          
        
         
           YOu
           have
           observ'd
           in
           my
           first
           Letter
           ,
           That
           the
           States-Generall
           have
           always
           given
           Liberty
           of
           Conscience
           to
           all
           sorts
           of
           persons
           ,
           and
           allow'd
           the
           publick
           exercise
           ,
           in
           a
           manner
           ,
           of
           all
           Religions
           .
           You
           thereby
           find
           ,
           that
           they
           never
           executed
           the
           Ordinance
           which
           they
           made
           in
           the
           Year
           1583.
           to
           wit
           ,
           
             That
             no
             any
             Religion
             should
             be
             thenceforwards
             receiv'd
             ,
             nor
             the
             exercise
             of
             any
             other
             be
             permitted
             ,
             then
             that
             which
             was
             publickly
             taught
             in
             the
             Seven
             Provinces
             ,
             and
             which
             is
             the
             Reformed
             Religion
             .
          
           It
           will
           be
           no
           hard
           matter
           for
           me
           to
           prove
           to
           you
           thereby
           ,
           That
           what
           external
           profession
           soever
           the
           
             Vnited
             Provinces
          
           have
           hitherto
           made
           of
           the
           
             Reformed
             Religion
          
           ,
           if
           we
           search
           the
           business
           to
           the
           bottom
           ,
           it
           will
           appear
           ,
           that
           they
           neither
           are
           ,
           nor
           ever
           were
           of
           it
           .
        
         
           While
           the
           free
           exercise
           of
           all
           Religions
           was
           permitted
           by
           all
           the
           publick
           Decrees
           ,
           you
           will
           certainly
           acknowledg
           ,
           That
           then
           the
           States
           were
           not
           yet
           of
           our
           Reformed
           way
           of
           Religion
           .
           For
           if
           you
           make
           this
           conclusion
           ,
           That
           these
           Provinces
           were
           at
           that
           time
           of
           our
           Religion
           ,
           because
           there
           was
           a
           publick
           profession
           of
           our
           Religion
           made
           in
           them
           ,
           I
           shall
           ,
           with
           the
           same
           reason
           ,
           make
           this
           ,
           That
           they
           were
           
             Catholicks
             ,
             Lutherans
          
           ,
           and
           Anabaptists
           ,
           because
           ,
           at
           that
           time
           ,
           there
           was
           a
           publick
           Profession
           made
           in
           them
           of
           all
           those
           Religions
           .
           Let
           us
           therefore
           examine
           ,
           what
           Ordinances
           these
           Provinces
           made
           afterwards
           ,
           which
           might
           give
           them
           the
           name
           ,
           which
           they
           are
           so
           desirous
           to
           have
           ,
           of
           our
           
             Reformed
             Religion
          
           .
           I
           have
           told
           you
           heretofore
           ,
           That
           it
           was
           in
           the
           Year
           1572.
           that
           our
           Reformed
           way
           of
           Religion
           ,
           such
           as
           it
           was
           taught
           at
           Geneva
           ,
           in
           your
           Cantons
           ,
           and
           in
           the
           Palatinate
           of
           the
           Rhine
           ,
           was
           receiv'd
           in
           these
           Provinces
           ,
           for
           the
           only
           publick
           Religion
           .
           But
           the
           very
           Ordinance
           ,
           which
           establish'd
           our
           Religion
           to
           be
           the
           publick
           Religion
           ,
           Did
           also
           openly
           confirm
           the
           
             Liberty
             of
             Conscience
          
           of
           all
           sorts
           of
           Religions
           ,
           with
           an
           express
           prohibition
           ,
           
           for
           the
           Disturbing
           or
           Molesting
           of
           any
           Person
           whatsoever
           upon
           that
           account
           .
        
         
           The
           difference
           there
           upon
           this
           Score
           ,
           between
           the
           States-General
           ,
           and
           all
           the
           other
           Estates
           of
           our
           Reformed
           Religion
           ,
           was
           so
           great
           ,
           that
           I
           cannot
           imagine
           you
           should
           think
           the
           one
           and
           the
           others
           to
           be
           of
           the
           same
           Religion
           .
           The
           
             Vnited
             Provinces
          
           had
           ordain'd
           it
           by
           a
           publick
           Decree
           ,
           That
           the
           free
           Exercise
           of
           all
           Rel●gions
           should
           be
           permitted
           .
           The
           
             Elector
             Palatine
          
           ,
           the
           City
           of
           Geneva
           ,
           and
           your
           Cantons
           did
           not
           ,
           in
           any
           part
           of
           their
           Territories
           ,
           permit
           the
           Exercise
           of
           any
           Religion
           ,
           ever
           so
           little
           different
           from
           ours
           .
           I
           question
           not
           but
           that
           you
           know
           ,
           the
           Elector-Palatine
           did
           ,
           at
           the
           beginning
           ,
           follow
           the
           Confession
           of
           Auxbourg
           ,
           which
           was
           received
           in
           all
           his
           Dominions
           ;
           and
           that
           ,
           since
           that
           time
           ,
           having
           embrac'd
           our
           Reformed
           way
           of
           Religion
           ,
           and
           having
           est●blish'd
           it
           in
           his
           Country
           ,
           he
           order'd
           all
           the
           Lutherans
           ,
           who
           would
           not
           make
           profession
           thereof
           ,
           to
           depart
           out
           of
           it
           .
           It
           is
           doubtless
           ,
           no
           small
           trouble
           to
           the
           Elector
           of
           Brandenbourg
           ,
           to
           see
           that
           most
           of
           his
           Subj●cts
           are
           Lutherans
           ,
           that
           there
           are
           many
           of
           them
           Catholicks
           ,
           and
           but
           very
           few
           of
           the
           Calvinistical
           reformed
           way
           of
           Religion
           .
           But
           ,
           as
           you
           know
           ,
           it
           is
           not
           above
           sixty
           years
           since
           that
           Electoral
           House
           began
           to
           make
           profession
           of
           our
           Reformed
           Religion
           ,
           yet
           so
           ,
           that
           he
           could
           not
           oblige
           his
           Subjects
           ,
           either
           his
           embrace
           the
           same
           ,
           or
           to
           quit
           that
           which
           they
           had
           profess'd
           for
           a
           long
           time
           before
           .
           
             John
             Sigismond
          
           ,
           who
           died
           in
           the
           Year
           1619.
           and
           was
           Grandfather
           to
           the
           Elector
           now
           reigning
           ,
           was
           the
           first
           Renouncer
           of
           the
           Lutherane
           Religion
           ,
           which
           he
           and
           some
           of
           the
           Ancestors
           had
           till
           then
           prof●ss'd
           ,
           and
           first
           the
           Profession
           of
           our
           Reformed
           way
           .
           He
           publish'd
           a
           Confession
           of
           Faith
           ,
           in
           the
           Year
           1614.
           
           In
           the
           Preface
           of
           it
           ,
           he
           saies
           ,
           That
           it
           was
           about
           eighty
           Years
           ,
           since
           Joakim
           ,
           he
           Second
           ,
           had
           renounced
           the
           Ceremonies
           of
           the
           Roman
           Church
           ;
           But
           that
           having
           retain'd
           a
           Doctr●ne
           upon
           the
           Point
           of
           the
           Eucharist
           ,
           which
           was
           not
           conformable
           to
           the
           Truth
           ,
           and
           some
           other
           things
           in
           the
           Temples
           ,
           which
           were
           not
           allowable
           ,
           he
           had
           apply'd
           ,
           himself
           to
           the
           correcting
           of
           all
           Abuses
           ,
           in
           order
           to
           a
           full
           and
           perfect
           Reformation
           .
           And
           yet
           the
           greatest
           part
           of
           his
           Subjects
           ,
           having
           ,
           near
           fourscore
           years
           before
           ,
           embrac'd
           the
           
             Lutherane
             Religion
          
           ,
           he
           was
           so
           far
           from
           obliging
           them
           to
           quit
           it
           ,
           and
           to
           embrace
           the
           Profession
           of
           ours
           ,
           that
           ,
           in
           many
           parts
           of
           his
           Territories
           ,
           nay
           even
           at
           Berlin
           it self
           ,
           which
           is
           the
           principal
           City
           of
           his
           Residence
           ,
           he
           has
           
           not
           the
           Liberty
           of
           having
           the
           particular
           Exercise
           of
           our
           Rel●gion
           ,
           for
           any
           but
           himself
           and
           those
           of
           his
           Houshold
           .
           No
           doubt
           but
           he
           wishes
           that
           he
           could
           follow
           the
           example
           of
           other
           Estates
           ,
           who
           do
           profess
           it
           ,
           in
           not
           permitting
           the
           Exercise
           of
           any
           o●her
           in
           all
           his
           Dominions
           .
        
         
           There
           is
           not
           any
           necessity
           of
           my
           telling
           you
           ,
           That
           there
           never
           was
           ,
           either
           at
           Geneva
           ,
           or
           in
           your
           Cantons
           ,
           any
           permission
           ,
           I
           do
           not
           say
           of
           the
           Exercise
           of
           our
           Religion
           ,
           but
           even
           of
           Habitation
           ,
           for
           those
           whose
           profess
           a
           Religion
           different
           from
           ours
           .
           That
           being
           so
           ,
           I
           assure
           my self
           ,
           of
           your
           being
           persuaded
           ,
           that
           one
           and
           the
           same
           Religion
           cannot
           inspire
           those
           who
           profess
           it
           ,
           with
           sentiments
           that
           are
           contradictory
           ,
           and
           with
           an
           absolutely
           opposite
           Conduct
           and
           deportment
           .
        
         
           There
           may
           be
           some
           in
           the
           World
           ,
           who
           would
           say
           ,
           That
           interest
           of
           State
           obliged
           the
           Palatinate
           ,
           the
           City
           of
           Geneva
           ,
           and
           your
           Cantons
           ,
           to
           proceed
           one
           way
           ,
           and
           that
           the
           same
           interest
           of
           State
           obliges
           the
           
             Vnited
             Prvinces
          
           to
           take
           a
           quite
           different
           Course
           ,
           in
           the
           same
           case
           ,
           and
           upon
           the
           same
           Oceasion
           .
           But
           I
           do
           not
           imagine
           ,
           that
           you
           approve
           that
           strange
           Maxim
           of
           some
           Politicians
           ,
           who
           accommodate
           Religion
           to
           the
           Interest
           of
           State
           ;
           and
           I
           hope
           ,
           you
           will
           acknowledge
           ,
           that
           they
           ,
           who
           do
           so
           ,
           have
           not
           any
           at
           all
           .
           At
           the
           very
           time
           that
           our
           Religion
           was
           establish'd
           by
           a
           publick
           Decree
           ,
           Liberty
           of
           Conscience
           was
           also
           solemnly
           confirm'd
           ,
           by
           the
           Union
           of
           Vtrecht
           .
           Nay
           it
           is
           expressly
           granted
           ,
           That
           ,
           as
           to
           matter
           of
           Religion
           ,
           
             Every
             Seignory
             or
             Province
             ,
             should
             make
             such
             regulation
             as
             it
             thought
             fit
             ,
             according
             to
             its
             own
             customes
             .
          
           It
           is
           therefore
           manifest
           ,
           That
           the
           united
           Provinces
           cannot
           be
           said
           to
           be
           of
           the
           
             Reformed
             Religion
          
           ,
           according
           to
           the
           Calvinistical
           way
           ,
           but
           only
           from
           that
           time
           ,
           and
           by
           Reason
           of
           the
           Regulation
           which
           they
           made
           in
           the
           Year
           1583.
           
           But
           if
           ,
           as
           I
           think
           I
           have
           evidently
           made
           it
           appear
           ,
           the
           States
           have
           no
           other
           ground
           than
           that
           ,
           from
           which
           they
           may
           have
           the
           demonination
           of
           being
           of
           the
           
             Reformed
             Religion
          
           ,
           methinks
           I
           shall
           without
           much
           ado
           ,
           make
           it
           further
           appear
           to
           you
           ,
           that
           they
           have
           not
           any
           at
           all
           .
        
         
           If
           then
           the
           Decree
           they
           made
           ,
           by
           which
           it
           was
           expressly
           ordained
           ,
           That
           there
           should
           not
           be
           the
           permission
           of
           any
           Religion
           amongst
           them
           ,
           but
           of
           ours
           only
           ,
           does
           justly
           give
           them
           the
           Name
           
           of
           a
           State
           of
           that
           
             Reformed
             Religion
          
           ,
           the
           continual
           Conduct
           which
           they
           have
           hitherto
           observ'd
           ,
           in
           a
           constant
           Practice
           of
           what
           is
           quite
           contrary
           to
           the
           Ordinance
           ,
           does
           ,
           if
           I
           mistake
           not
           ,
           deprive
           them
           of
           the
           Name
           ,
           which
           they
           pretended
           to
           ,
           by
           its
           Establishment
           .
           I
           do
           not
           think
           ,
           Sir
           ,
           that
           you
           will
           undertake
           to
           maintain
           ,
           That
           for
           a
           State
           to
           be
           of
           our
           
             Reformed
             Religion
          
           ,
           it
           needs
           do
           no
           more
           ,
           than
           make
           a
           Decree
           ,
           by
           which
           it
           declares
           a
           Resolution
           to
           profess
           it
           ,
           and
           not
           to
           permit
           in
           its
           Territories
           the
           Exercise
           of
           any
           other
           Religion
           ;
           when
           ,
           instead
           of
           a
           sincere
           Accomplishment
           of
           what
           had
           been
           resolved
           by
           its
           Decree
           ,
           it
           is
           so
           far
           from
           performing
           of
           any
           thing
           of
           it
           ,
           that
           it
           acts
           d●rectly
           to
           contrary
           thereto
           .
           I
           do
           not
           imagine
           you
           will
           pretend
           ,
           That
           State
           to
           be
           of
           our
           Religion
           ,
           by
           Virtue
           of
           a
           Decree
           ,
           which
           it
           makes
           ,
           and
           never
           did
           put
           in
           Execution
           .
           You
           will
           tell
           me
           ,
           That
           the
           States-General
           are
           of
           our
           Religion
           ,
           because
           they
           affirm
           it
           ,
           and
           make
           a
           publick
           Profession
           thereof
           .
           And
           I
           ,
           on
           the
           other
           side
           ,
           maintain
           ,
           that
           That
           is
           not
           sufficient
           ,
           for
           their
           assuming
           a
           name
           which
           they
           do
           not
           deserve
           ,
           since
           they
           destroy
           the
           external
           Profession
           they
           make
           of
           it
           ,
           by
           a
           Practice
           quite
           opposite
           ,
           and
           very
           odious
           to
           all
           those
           of
           the
           Religion
           .
           If
           they
           permitted
           in
           their
           Country
           but
           one
           or
           two
           Religions
           ,
           whose
           Sentiments
           were
           not
           much
           different
           from
           ours
           ,
           and
           that
           in
           some
           of
           the
           less
           principal
           ,
           and
           lesser
           important
           Points
           ,
           there
           would
           be
           no
           great
           Cause
           for
           men
           to
           wonder
           at
           it
           .
           It
           might
           be
           urged
           ,
           That
           Prudence
           and
           Charity
           oblig'd
           them
           ,
           to
           have
           some
           Complyance
           for
           Christians
           ,
           who
           ,
           as
           to
           the
           principal
           Part
           ,
           retain
           the
           ground-work
           of
           Faith
           ,
           though
           they
           have
           not
           received
           such
           Illuminations
           from
           God
           ,
           as
           might
           create
           a
           Belief
           of
           all
           our
           Mysteries
           .
           But
           is
           there
           any
           thing
           in
           the
           World
           so
           surprizing
           ,
           as
           our
           finding
           ,
           That
           the
           States
           give
           an
           unlimited
           liberty
           to
           all
           Sorts
           of
           Religions
           ,
           insomuch
           ,
           That
           in
           the
           very
           Province
           of
           
             Holland
             ▪
          
           ,
           there
           are
           more
           discover'd
           and
           acknowledg'd
           Sects
           ,
           than
           there
           are
           in
           all
           the
           other
           Parts
           of
           Europe
           ,
           and
           that
           there
           is
           not
           any
           Master-Heretick
           ,
           who
           has
           a
           mind
           to
           frame
           a
           n●w
           Sect
           ,
           but
           is
           there
           kindly
           received
           ,
           to
           teach
           and
           propagate
           his
           Religion
           ,
           and
           to
           make
           a
           publick
           Profession
           thereof
           ?
        
         
           Some
           Years
           since
           ,
           
             John
             Labadie
          
           ,
           the
           Apostate
           ,
           having
           been
           depos'd
           and
           excommunicated
           by
           the
           Walloon-Churches
           of
           this
           Country
           ,
           addressed
           himself
           to
           the
           
             Heer
             Van
             Beuninghen
          
           ,
           desiring
           to
           be
           taken
           into
           his
           Protection
           ,
           
             Van
             Beuninghen
          
           makes
           him
           this
           Answer
           ,
           
             That
             as
             long
             as
             he
             was
             willing
             to
             continue
             in
             the
             
             Communion
             of
             the
          
           Walloon-Churches
           ,
           
             he
             was
             oblig'd
             to
             submit
             to
             their
             Ordinances
             and
             Discipline
             ;
             but
             that
             if
             he
             would
             frame
             a
             new
             Sect
             ,
             he
             should
             participate
             of
             the
             Protection
             which
             the
             States
             granted
             to
             all
             sorts
             of
             Religions
             .
          
           I
           do
           not
           question
           but
           you
           know
           the
           said
           person
           ,
           and
           are
           ,
           doubtless
           ,
           able
           to
           judge
           ,
           That
           it
           was
           not
           out
           of
           any
           Scruple
           of
           Conscience
           ,
           that
           he
           thought
           it
           not
           convenient
           ,
           to
           establish
           his
           Sect
           in
           this
           Countrey
           .
           He
           had
           amongst
           his
           Devotes
           ,
           the
           Illustrious
           Gentlewoman
           ,
           Mrs.
           
             Mary
             de
             Schurmans
          
           ,
           and
           other
           young
           Ladies
           ,
           of
           more
           than
           ordinary
           quality
           ;
           but
           being
           in
           some
           Fear
           ,
           That
           their
           Relations
           might
           get
           them
           out
           of
           his
           Society
           ,
           which
           began
           to
           be
           cry'd
           down
           ,
           and
           to
           appear
           very
           scandalous
           ;
           he
           thought
           it
           his
           better
           way
           ,
           to
           settle
           himself
           elsewhere
           ,
           with
           his
           sanctified
           Company
           of
           both
           Sexes
           ,
           whom
           he
           took
           along
           with
           him
           .
           Had
           he
           thought
           it
           convenient
           ,
           to
           make
           his
           Abode
           in
           this
           Country
           ,
           he
           would
           have
           augmented
           the
           Number
           of
           Sects
           ,
           which
           have
           their
           Establishment
           here
           ,
           and
           made
           some
           Additions
           to
           the
           Religions
           ,
           which
           have
           a
           publick
           Liberty
           in
           these
           parts
           .
        
         
           But
           though
           this
           
             Liberty
             of
             Conscience
          
           ,
           is
           of
           so
           great
           a
           Latitude
           as
           I
           have
           told
           you
           ,
           yet
           I
           am
           in
           some
           suspense
           ,
           whether
           you
           know
           it
           to
           be
           so
           comprehensive
           ,
           as
           to
           extend
           to
           the
           countenancing
           and
           protecting
           of
           those
           Hereticks
           ,
           whom
           you
           would
           sentence
           to
           death
           ,
           if
           they
           were
           amongst
           you
           .
           This
           I
           am
           satified
           you
           know
           ,
           That
           ,
           above
           a
           hundred
           years
           ago
           ,
           your
           Canton
           ,
           and
           the
           Republick
           of
           Geneva
           ,
           condemned
           
             Michael
             Servetus
          
           ,
           and
           
             Scipio
             Gentilis
          
           ,
           to
           be
           bu●nt
           alive
           ,
           for
           the
           erroneous
           Opinions
           they
           held
           ,
           concerning
           the
           Trinity
           .
           The
           principal
           Errours
           ,
           upon
           which
           they
           were
           Indicted
           ,
           are
           much
           the
           same
           ,
           or
           ,
           at
           least
           ,
           are
           not
           more
           dangerous
           ,
           than
           those
           which
           the
           Socinians
           maintain
           ,
           upon
           the
           same
           Mystery
           of
           Christian
           Religion
           .
           Do
           you
           not
           then
           wonder
           at
           the
           extraordinary
           difference
           there
           is
           ,
           between
           the
           Conduct
           observ'd
           by
           your
           Canton
           ,
           and
           the
           Republick
           of
           Geneva
           ,
           towards
           those
           two
           ancient
           Hereticks
           ,
           and
           that
           which
           the
           States
           observe
           ,
           in
           reference
           to
           the
           Socinians
           ,
           who
           propagate
           the
           same
           Heresies
           ,
           or
           others
           that
           are
           equally
           pernicious
           ?
           Geneva
           ,
           and
           your
           Canton
           could
           not
           endure
           the
           one
           ,
           Servetus
           ,
           and
           the
           other
           ,
           Gentilis
           ;
           and
           pass'd
           their
           judgment
           ,
           that
           they
           both
           deserv'd
           death
           .
           The
           States-General
           do
           ,
           without
           any
           Scruple
           ,
           suffer
           a
           great
           number
           of
           Socinians
           ,
           most
           of
           whom
           are
           born
           and
           brought
           up
           amongst
           them
           ,
           and
           never
           had
           the
           least
           thought
           of
           doing
           them
           any
           harm
           ,
           upon
           the
           score
           of
           their
           Religion
           .
        
         
         
           Your
           Canton
           ,
           and
           the
           City
           of
           Geneva
           would
           have
           thought
           themselves
           guilty
           of
           a
           great
           Crime
           against
           God
           ,
           if
           they
           had
           not
           ,
           by
           death
           ,
           taken
           off
           these
           two
           Hereticks
           ,
           who
           h●ld
           such
           strange
           Errours
           ,
           against
           the
           Divinity
           of
           
             Jesus
             Christ
          
           .
           But
           the
           States-General
           would
           think
           they
           had
           committed
           a
           great
           Sin
           against
           God
           ,
           if
           they
           should
           put
           any
           of
           the
           Socinians
           to
           death
           ,
           whatever
           their
           Errours
           may
           be
           .
           Your
           Cantons
           ,
           and
           the
           City
           of
           Geneva
           ,
           thought
           themselves
           ob●ig'd
           in
           Conscience
           ,
           out
           of
           their
           zeal
           for
           the
           Glory
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           Christian
           Religion
           ,
           to
           take
           all
           the
           Courses
           imaginable
           ,
           for
           the
           smothering
           of
           those
           Heresies
           ,
           which
           are
           so
           destructive
           to
           our
           Principal
           Mysteries
           .
           The
           States-General
           have
           ,
           on
           the
           contrary
           ,
           done
           all
           that
           lay
           in
           their
           Power
           ,
           to
           countenance
           and
           to
           improve
           them
           .
        
         
           Not
           many
           years
           ago
           ,
           the
           Books
           of
           the
           Socinians
           were
           very
           scarce
           .
           Amongst
           those
           which
           had
           come
           forth
           into
           the
           World
           ,
           as
           they
           had
           been
           printed
           in
           very
           remote
           places
           ,
           and
           but
           very
           few
           Copies
           had
           been
           taken
           off
           ,
           so
           were
           there
           not
           any
           to
           be
           had
           ,
           but
           at
           very
           dear
           Rates
           ;
           nay
           most
           of
           them
           were
           not
           to
           be
           had
           at
           all
           .
           The
           States-General
           have
           out
           of
           their
           special
           Favour
           and
           Indulgence
           ,
           and
           out
           of
           an
           unparallel'd
           tenderness
           of
           Conscience
           ,
           found
           out
           a
           Remedy
           for
           that
           inconvenience
           .
           To
           satisfy
           the
           Socinians
           ,
           and
           those
           who
           were
           desirous
           to
           become
           their
           Proselytes
           ,
           they
           have
           permitted
           the
           works
           of
           Four
           of
           their
           principal
           Doctors
           to
           be
           printed
           ,
           at
           Amsterdam
           ;
           to
           wit
           ,
           those
           of
           
             Socinus
             ,
             Crellius
             ,
             Slichtingius
          
           ,
           and
           Wolfogenius
           .
        
         
           At
           this
           very
           time
           ,
           there
           is
           publickly
           sold
           at
           Amsterdam
           ,
           that
           Library
           of
           the
           Socinians
           ,
           in
           Eight
           Volumes
           ,
           in
           folio
           ,
           which
           costs
           but
           a
           hundred
           Guilders
           .
           Not
           many
           years
           since
           ,
           two
           hundred
           Pistols
           would
           not
           have
           purchased
           one
           part
           of
           those
           Works
           ,
           which
           at
           present
           may
           be
           had
           altogether
           for
           less
           than
           ten
           .
           True
           it
           is
           ,
           That
           not
           long
           since
           ,
           there
           was
           burnt
           at
           Amsterdam
           ,
           a
           certain
           book
           of
           the
           Socinians
           ;
           but
           it
           was
           done
           ,
           no
           doubt
           ,
           upon
           the
           very
           Intreaty
           of
           
             William
             Bleau
          
           ,
           for
           whom
           it
           had
           been
           printed
           .
           Not
           many
           dayes
           after
           that
           publick
           Execution
           ,
           he
           publickly
           expos'd
           the
           very
           same
           Book
           to
           sale
           ,
           and
           the
           more
           to
           recommend
           the
           sale
           of
           it
           ,
           and
           to
           enhaunce
           the
           Price
           of
           it
           ,
           he
           had
           got
           an
           Advertisement
           put
           into
           the
           Title-Page
           ,
           that
           it
           was
           the
           very
           same
           Book
           ,
           which
           had
           been
           ,
           by
           Order
           of
           the
           States
           ,
           condemn'd
           to
           be
           publickly
           burnt
           ,
           by
           the
           hand
           of
           the
           common
           Executioner
           .
        
         
         
           I
           question
           not
           ,
           but
           you
           have
           had
           the
           relation
           ,
           or
           haply
           you
           your self
           remember
           it
           very
           well
           ,
           how
           that
           not
           much
           above
           Forty
           years
           ago
           ,
           the
           Magistrate
           of
           Geneva
           caused
           
             Nicholas
             Anthony
          
           a
           Minister
           at
           Divonne
           ,
           in
           the
           Balliage
           of
           Gex
           ,
           to
           be
           burnt
           alive
           ,
           upon
           a
           discovery
           made
           ,
           of
           his
           being
           a
           Jew
           .
           The
           Twelve
           Articles
           ,
           which
           he
           signed
           ,
           and
           upon
           which
           an
           Indictment
           was
           drawn
           up
           against
           him
           ,
           make
           it
           evidently
           app●ar
           ,
           that
           he
           did
           not
           beli●ve
           any
           one
           of
           our
           Mysteries
           of
           the
           Incarnation
           ,
           and
           Death
           of
           
             Jesus
             Christ
          
           ,
           for
           the
           Salvation
           of
           men
           ,
           and
           that
           he
           expected
           the
           coming
           of
           
             Jesus
             Christ
          
           ,
           as
           the
           Jews
           do
           expect
           him
           ,
           for
           their
           Deliverance
           ,
           and
           the
           Establishment
           of
           a
           Temporal
           Kingdom
           upon
           Earth
           .
           No
           doubt
           but
           you
           know
           ,
           that
           the
           Jews
           are
           very
           numerous
           in
           this
           Country
           ;
           that
           they
           have
           an
           absolute
           Liberty
           ,
           and
           their
           Synagogue
           ,
           in
           which
           they
           make
           their
           Assemblies
           for
           the
           Service
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           that
           there
           never
           was
           the
           least
           Thought
           of
           driving
           them
           hence
           ,
           or
           putting
           any
           one
           of
           them
           to
           death
           .
        
         
           You
           know
           also
           ,
           better
           than
           I
           do
           my self
           ,
           what
           you
           did
           at
           Berne
           ,
           in
           reference
           to
           some
           Mennonites
           ,
           who
           were
           found
           in
           your
           Territories
           .
           They
           gave
           them
           the
           dreadful
           name
           of
           Anabaptists
           ,
           purposely
           to
           render
           them
           odious
           ,
           and
           abominable
           to
           all
           your
           people
           .
           You
           cast
           them
           into
           Prison
           ,
           and
           you
           there
           kept
           them
           a
           long
           time
           ,
           out
           of
           the
           Zeal
           you
           had
           for
           your
           own
           Religion
           ,
           and
           the
           aversion
           you
           had
           to
           theirs
           ;
           nay
           ,
           for
           a
           certain
           time
           ,
           you
           would
           not
           set
           them
           at
           liberty
           ,
           in
           order
           to
           their
           departure
           ,
           with
           what
           they
           had
           ,
           into
           some
           other
           Parts
           .
           But
           at
           last
           ,
           you
           granted
           them
           that
           Favour
           ,
           and
           it
           is
           not
           unlikely
           ,
           that
           you
           did
           it
           upon
           the
           Intreaty
           of
           the
           Magistrate
           of
           Roterdam
           ,
           who
           writ
           to
           you
           a
           very
           pressing
           Letter
           on
           their
           Behalf
           .
           Some
           years
           before
           ,
           the
           Canton
           of
           Schasfhouse
           ,
           had
           also
           banish'd
           out
           of
           their
           T●rritories
           ,
           certain
           ▪
           Mennonites
           ,
           and
           thought
           they
           had
           done
           them
           a
           kindness
           ,
           in
           permitting
           them
           to
           take
           along
           with
           them
           what
           effects
           they
           had
           ,
           into
           some
           other
           parts
           .
           Nay
           ,
           I
           have
           been
           also
           assured
           ,
           that
           not
           many
           Years
           since
           ,
           a
           certain
           Number
           of
           Mennonites
           being
           ,
           to
           their
           Misfortune
           ,
           found
           in
           the
           Canton
           of
           Zeurich
           ,
           they
           were
           taken
           into
           custody
           ,
           and
           had
           indictments
           drawn
           up
           against
           them
           ,
           on
           these
           two
           Capital
           Crimes
           .
        
         
           There
           were
           at
           that
           time
           some
           Comapnies
           raising
           ,
           upon
           some
           extraordinary
           occasion
           which
           the
           Magistrates
           had
           ,
           for
           the
           safety
           
           of
           the
           Country
           .
           The
           Mennonites
           would
           have
           excused
           themselves
           ,
           from
           being
           listed
           in
           those
           Companies
           ,
           alledging
           ,
           That
           they
           did
           not
           believe
           a
           Christian
           could
           ,
           with
           a
           good
           Conscience
           ,
           bear
           arms
           ,
           upon
           any
           occasion
           whatsoever
           .
           They
           preferr'd
           however
           ,
           voluntarily
           to
           lay
           down
           what
           money
           should
           be
           required
           of
           them
           ,
           for
           the
           payment
           of
           such
           Person
           ,
           as
           might
           be
           put
           in
           to
           serve
           in
           their
           stead
           .
           They
           would
           moreover
           engage
           them
           to
           oblige
           themselves
           by
           Oath
           ,
           to
           be
           faithfull
           to
           the
           State
           ,
           and
           to
           obey
           their
           Magistrates
           .
           They
           acknowledged
           ,
           That
           they
           were
           in
           Conscience
           ,
           oblig'd
           to
           that
           Duty
           ,
           and
           that
           they
           should
           be
           very
           careful
           in
           the
           discharging
           of
           it
           ;
           They
           promis'd
           to
           do
           so
           ,
           and
           declar'd
           ,
           that
           they
           conceiv'd
           themselves
           as
           deeply
           engag'd
           ,
           by
           their
           bare
           word
           ,
           as
           if
           they
           had
           confirm'd
           it
           with
           a
           solemn
           Oath
           ;
           But
           that
           they
           could
           not
           be
           induc'd
           to
           take
           any
           ,
           for
           this
           Reason
           ,
           that
           they
           believed
           ,
           that
           
             Jesus
             Christ
          
           had
           commanded
           such
           as
           profess'd
           Christianity
           ,
           simply
           to
           say
           ,
           Yea
           ,
           for
           the
           affirming
           of
           a
           thing
           ▪
           and
           Nay
           ,
           for
           the
           denying
           of
           it
           ,
           expressly
           forbidding
           them
           to
           swear
           ,
           upon
           any
           occasion
           whatsoever
           .
        
         
           The
           Magistrate
           of
           Zurich
           ,
           judging
           that
           those
           two
           Errours
           were
           pernicious
           to
           the
           State
           ,
           pass'd
           this
           Order
           against
           the
           Authors
           thereof
           ,
           
             That
             within
             Fiftee●●●
             dayes
             ,
             they
             were
             to
             depart
             out
             of
          
           Switzerland
           ,
           
             and
             to
             remove
             th●●ce
             all
             their
             Effects
             ,
             and
             Concerns
             ,
             or
             abjure
             their
             Doctrine
             ,
             be
             ready
             to
             take
             their
             Oaths
             ,
             and
             to
             take
             up
             Arms
             ,
             if
             the
             Magistrate
             commanded
             any
             such
             thing
             ;
             And
             if
             any
             one
             did
             not
             obey
             this
             Order
             ,
             that
             he
             should
             be
             taken
             ,
             and
             banish'd
             ,
             after
             he
             had
             receiv'd
             a
             severe
             Chastisment
             by
             Whipping
             ;
             If
             he
             were
             taken
             a
             second
             time
             ,
             That
             he
             should
             be
             whipped
             again
             ,
             and
             that
             after
             he
             had
             been
             burnt
             with
             an
             hot
             Iron
             on
             the
             Shoulder
             ,
             he
             should
             be
             again
             sentenc'd
             to
             Banishment
             ;
             but
             if
             he
             were
             taken
             the
             third
             time
             ,
             he
             was
             to
             be
             brought
             to
             the
             Magistrate
             as
             a
             Rebel
             ,
             and
             so
             to
             be
             put
             to
             death
             .
          
           But
           all
           the
           Cities
           of
           this
           Netherlandish
           Country
           are
           full
           of
           these
           Mennonites
           ,
           who
           have
           their
           publick
           Assemblies
           ,
           and
           an
           absolute
           Liberty
           of
           Exercising
           their
           Religion
           .
           Nay
           ,
           there
           is
           at
           Amsterdam
           ,
           That
           
             Christopher
             Sandius
          
           ,
           of
           whom
           I
           have
           heretofore
           spoken
           to
           you
           ,
           who
           makes
           an
           open
           and
           publick
           Profession
           of
           being
           an
           Arrian
           ,
           and
           he
           has
           many
           Disciples
           .
        
         
           If
           therefore
           you
           will
           seriously
           examine
           the
           thing
           ,
           I
           think
           you
           will
           meet
           with
           but
           little
           Encouragement
           ,
           to
           maintain
           ,
           That
           
           those
           Governments
           ,
           which
           follow
           so
           contrary
           a
           Practice
           ,
           one
           to
           the
           other
           ,
           upon
           a
           matter
           of
           Fact
           so
           important
           ,
           Reference
           to
           Religion
           ,
           can
           ,
           in
           the
           mean
           time
           ,
           be
           of
           the
           same
           Religion
           .
           I
           do
           not
           Imagine
           ,
           that
           you
           will
           approve
           or
           what
           some
           affirm
           ,
           upon
           this
           occasion
           ,
           
             That
             in
             things
             which
             are
             indifferent
             ,
             two
             States
             may
             demean
             themselves
             ,
             the
             one
             ,
             this
             way
             ,
             and
             the
             other
             ,
             that
             way
             ,
             and
             be
             both
             in
             the
             mean
             time
             of
             the
             same
             Religion
             .
          
        
         
           Things
           indifferent
           ,
           as
           to
           practicability
           ,
           are
           ,
           if
           I
           am
           not
           mistaken
           ,
           such
           as
           may
           ,
           or
           may
           not
           be
           done
           ,
           or
           be
           done
           after
           one
           manner
           ,
           or
           after
           another
           quite
           different
           manner
           ,
           yet
           ,
           all
           without
           offending
           God.
           But
           I
           am
           not
           easily
           to
           be
           persuaded
           ,
           that
           the
           things
           we
           now
           speak
           of
           can
           be
           called
           Indifferent
           .
           For
           I
           pray
           ,
           tell
           me
           ,
           Was
           it
           not
           well
           done
           by
           your
           Magistrate
           ,
           and
           by
           that
           of
           Geneva
           ,
           when
           they
           burnt
           these
           two
           ancient
           Hereticks
           ,
           and
           this
           last
           Jew
           ?
           If
           it
           was
           well
           done
           ,
           it
           was
           not
           therefore
           a
           thing
           Indifferent
           ,
           and
           they
           could
           not
           have
           omitted
           the
           doing
           of
           it
           ,
           without
           offending
           God.
           If
           they
           did
           well
           in
           their
           procedure
           ,
           methinks
           you
           cannot
           deny
           but
           that
           the
           Dutch
           do
           very
           ill
           ,
           in
           tolerating
           and
           protecting
           the
           Socinians
           ,
           who
           ,
           as
           to
           the
           main
           ,
           hold
           the
           same
           Errours
           ,
           as
           those
           ancient
           Hereticks
           ;
           unless
           you
           would
           haply
           affirm
           ,
           That
           there
           are
           some
           things
           in
           reference
           to
           Religion
           ,
           which
           may
           be
           done
           after
           one
           way
           in
           Switzerland
           ,
           and
           at
           Geneva
           ,
           and
           after
           another
           way
           in
           the
           Low-Countries
           .
           For
           ,
           I
           cannot
           comprehend
           ,
           how
           one
           and
           the
           same
           Religion
           ,
           can
           incline
           some
           of
           those
           ,
           who
           profess
           it
           ,
           to
           do
           things
           directly
           contrary
           to
           those
           which
           the
           others
           do
           .
        
         
           Moreover
           ,
           I
           do
           not
           think
           ,
           that
           you
           will
           be
           so
           confident
           ,
           as
           to
           affirm
           ,
           that
           it
           was
           a
           thing
           indifferent
           ,
           for
           your
           Magistrate
           ,
           and
           for
           him
           of
           Geneva
           ,
           to
           put
           those
           two
           unforunate
           Hereticks
           to
           death
           .
           You
           have
           too
           great
           a
           respect
           for
           your
           Lords
           ,
           and
           Superiours
           ,
           to
           charge
           them
           with
           the
           Odium
           of
           so
           rigorous
           an
           Execution
           ,
           if
           they
           had
           not
           been
           thereto
           oblig'd
           by
           the
           Precepts
           of
           their
           Religion
           .
           If
           the
           Magistrates
           of
           the
           Low-Countries
           are
           of
           the
           same
           Religion
           ,
           as
           yours
           ,
           why
           does
           it
           not
           induce
           them
           ,
           to
           follow
           the
           same
           Practice
           ,
           in
           reference
           to
           the
           same
           Hereticks
           ,
           or
           others
           ,
           who
           are
           yet
           more
           dangerous
           ?
        
         
         
           In
           short
           ,
           I
           would
           make
           this
           Interrogatory
           to
           you
           ,
           
             Reverend
             Sir
          
           ,
           What
           S●nt●ment
           you
           have
           ,
           of
           those
           Magistrates
           ,
           who
           are
           of
           Opinion
           ,
           That
           no
           Man
           ought
           to
           be
           troubled
           ,
           or
           molested
           upon
           the
           score
           of
           Religion
           and
           ,
           That
           all
           Christians
           ought
           to
           be
           tolerated
           ,
           whatever
           disagreeing
           Sentiments
           they
           may
           have
           ,
           upon
           that
           Account
           ?
           If
           ●here
           were
           some
           of
           them
           amongst
           you
           ,
           I
           do
           not
           beli●ve
           you
           would
           receive
           them
           into
           your
           Communion
           ;
           at
           least
           ,
           thus
           far
           I
           am
           assur'd
           ,
           Th●t
           ,
           according
           to
           your
           own
           Principles
           ,
           you
           ought
           not
           to
           receive
           them
           .
           H●w
           then
           can
           you
           be
           of
           a
           Persuasion
           ,
           That
           the
           Magistrates
           of
           the
           
             Vnited
             Netherlands
          
           are
           of
           the
           
             Reformed
             Religion
          
           ,
           properly
           so
           called
           ;
           when
           as
           ,
           if
           they
           were
           at
           Geneva
           ,
           or
           in
           Cantons
           ,
           you
           cannot
           admit
           them
           to
           communicate
           with
           you
           ?
           You
           know
           ,
           that
           Monsieur
           
             d'
             Huissea●
          
           ,
           Pastor
           of
           the
           Church
           of
           Saumar
           ,
           was
           some
           years
           since
           ,
           depos'd
           ,
           and
           excommunicated
           ,
           by
           the
           Synod
           of
           the
           Province
           ,
           for
           the
           Book
           ,
           which
           he
           had
           publ●sh'd
           ,
           for
           the
           Toleration
           and
           Re-Union
           of
           Christians
           .
           Though
           I
           have
           read
           it
           ,
           yet
           cannot
           I
           call
           to
           mind
           ,
           all
           the
           Maxims
           ,
           wh●ch
           he
           advances
           and
           maintains
           .
           Mean
           time
           this
           I
           ●m
           assured
           of
           ,
           That
           he
           does
           not
           advise
           a
           greater
           Toleration
           of
           Christians
           ,
           than
           what
           the
           States-General
           do
           effectually
           grant
           .
           Which
           is
           as
           much
           as
           to
           say
           ,
           That
           the
           Magistrates
           of
           these
           Countries
           ,
           have
           time
           out
           of
           mind
           ,
           practis'd
           that
           which
           that
           Minister
           has
           taught
           ,
           by
           the
           Book
           ,
           which
           he
           writ
           some
           years
           since
           .
           If
           it
           be
           so
           ,
           I
           cannot
           imagine
           the
           Minister
           should
           be
           more
           in
           Fault
           ,
           than
           they
           are
           ;
           since
           he
           has
           offended
           only
           by
           his
           Writings
           ,
           and
           the
           Magistrates
           are
           effectual
           Offenders
           .
           They
           have
           been
           the
           Doers
           of
           the
           Mischief
           ,
           and
           he
           has
           been
           but
           the
           Teacher
           of
           it
           ,
           and
           ,
           possibly
           induc'd
           thereto
           ,
           by
           their
           Example
           .
           If
           you
           are
           of
           Opinion
           ,
           That
           the
           said
           Minister
           was
           justly
           ,
           and
           legally
           excommunicated
           ▪
           you
           must
           certainly
           be
           guilty
           of
           a
           strange
           Partiality
           ,
           if
           you
           allow
           the
           Name
           of
           your
           good
           
             Brethren
             in
             Jesus
             Christ
          
           ,
           to
           the
           Magistrates
           of
           the
           Low-Countries
           ,
           who
           ▪
           ●or
           those
           hundred
           years
           past
           ,
           have
           committed
           the
           Evil
           f●r
           which
           that
           Minister
           hath
           been
           excommunicated
           ,
           though
           he
           had
           not
           done
           it
           ,
           and
           but
           ▪
           only
           approv'd
           the
           Doing
           of
           it
           .
           If
           therefore
           ,
           you
           cannot
           own
           them
           for
           Brethren
           ,
           nor
           admit
           them
           to
           the
           participation
           of
           the
           Communion
           with
           you
           ,
           according
           to
           the
           Maxi●s
           of
           your
           own
           Religion
           and
           Discip●ines
           ,
           can
           it
           enter
           into
           your
           Bel●●f
           ,
           That
           the
           external
           Profession
           which
           they
           make
           of
           your
           Religion
           ,
           is
           
           sufficient
           to
           give
           him
           the
           denomination
           of
           being
           of
           it
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           you
           .
        
         
           But
           if
           the
           Magistrates
           did
           acquit
           themselves
           of
           the
           Devoir
           ,
           whereto
           the
           
             Reformed
             Religion
          
           does
           particularly
           oblige
           Magistrates
           ,
           I
           should
           make
           no
           difficulty
           to
           grant
           them
           the
           Privilege
           of
           Attributing
           to
           the
           State
           which
           they
           govern
           ,
           the
           Name
           of
           the
           Religion
           which
           they
           profess
           .
           I
           believe
           ,
           you
           will
           grant
           me
           ,
           That
           the
           Reformed
           Magistrates
           ,
           are
           ,
           after
           the
           Example
           of
           your
           Cantons
           ,
           oblig'd
           to
           obstruct
           the
           Establishment
           ,
           and
           publick
           Exercise
           of
           false
           Religions
           ;
           and
           the
           Magistrates
           themselves
           of
           the
           Low-Countries
           cannot
           be
           ignorant
           ,
           of
           what
           their
           own
           Confession
           of
           Faith
           ,
           review'd
           ,
           and
           approv'd
           by
           the
           Synod
           of
           Dort
           ,
           prescribes
           to
           them
           ,
           upon
           this
           occasion
           .
           The
           xxxvi
           .
           Article
           ,
           in
           which
           mention
           is
           made
           of
           Magistrates
           ,
           saies
           expressly
           ,
           
             That
             it
             is
             their
             Duty
             ,
             to
             remove
             Idolatry
             ,
             and
             the
             false
             service
             of
             God
             ,
             to
             endeavour
             the
             destruction
             of
          
           Antichrist
           ,
           
             and
             to
             advance
             the
             Kingdom
             of
             Jesus
             Christ
             .
          
        
         
           I
           cannot
           imagine
           therefore
           ,
           that
           you
           should
           endeavour
           to
           maintain
           ,
           That
           the
           States-General
           do
           conscientiously
           acquit
           themselves
           of
           what
           they
           are
           olig'd
           to
           by
           their
           charge
           of
           Magistracy
           ,
           after
           what
           I
           have
           said
           to
           you
           ,
           of
           the
           Liberty
           ,
           and
           Indulgence
           they
           grant
           ,
           to
           so
           many
           different
           Sects
           ,
           which
           ,
           by
           their
           erroneous
           opinions
           ,
           subvert
           the
           principal
           Mystery
           of
           our
           own
           Religion
           .
        
         
           If
           you
           consult
           your
           own
           Sentiments
           ,
           and
           those
           of
           your
           Collegues
           ,
           and
           of
           all
           your
           Ministers
           ,
           and
           if
           you
           follow
           the
           Practice
           of
           all
           your
           own
           Churches
           ,
           you
           are
           oblig'd
           to
           exclude
           out
           of
           your
           Communion
           all
           those
           Magistrates
           ,
           who
           give
           that
           Liberty
           to
           all
           sorts
           of
           Sects
           and
           Persuasions
           .
           How
           then
           can
           you
           think
           ,
           that
           those
           Magistrates
           ,
           whom
           the
           Ordinances
           of
           your
           own
           Churches
           permit
           not
           to
           communicate
           with
           you
           ,
           can
           give
           the
           Name
           of
           your
           Religion
           ,
           to
           the
           State
           which
           they
           govern
           ?
           Nay
           there
           are
           some
           Magistrates
           at
           Amsterdam
           ,
           and
           Rotterdam
           ;
           two
           of
           the
           principal
           ,
           and
           most
           wealthy
           Cities
           of
           Holland
           ,
           who
           make
           a
           publick
           and
           open
           Profession
           ,
           of
           their
           being
           Arminians
           .
        
         
         
           The
           Sieur
           
             Adrian
             Patius
          
           ,
           who
           is
           one
           of
           the
           Magistracy
           of
           Rotterdam
           ,
           is
           also
           an
           Arminian
           ,
           and
           his
           Religion
           hinders
           not
           his
           exercising
           the
           Charge
           of
           Ambassadour
           from
           the
           States-General
           ,
           at
           the
           Spanish
           Court
           ,
           where
           he
           at
           present
           is
           .
           I
           know
           not
           whether
           he
           be
           of
           those
           of
           the
           Sect
           ,
           who
           do
           absolutely
           follow
           the
           Sentiments
           of
           the
           Socinians
           .
           But
           if
           that
           person
           be
           a
           Socinian
           ,
           and
           ,
           in
           his
           Return
           from
           Spain
           ,
           should
           be
           in
           Humour
           to
           take
           his
           way
           through
           your
           Cantons
           ;
           I
           know
           not
           whether
           the
           worst
           that
           might
           happen
           to
           him
           ,
           would
           be
           ,
           a
           Denyal
           of
           Reception
           into
           your
           Communion
           .
        
         
           Upon
           the
           Summing
           up
           therefore
           of
           all
           I
           have
           said
           to
           you
           ,
           I
           am
           apt
           to
           think
           ,
           that
           you
           cannot
           still
           have
           the
           same
           Opinion
           of
           the
           States-General
           ,
           and
           continue
           your
           calling
           them
           a
           Holy
           and
           
             sanctify'd
             Republick
          
           .
           Could
           you
           represent
           to
           your self
           that
           strange
           
             party-colour'd
             ,
             Chequer-work
             of
             Religion
          
           ,
           which
           is
           to
           be
           seen
           in
           those
           Countries
           ,
           I
           should
           hardly
           believe
           ,
           that
           you
           could
           persist
           any
           longer
           ,
           in
           the
           good
           Sentiments
           you
           have
           for
           this
           State.
           I
           am
           ready
           to
           acknowledg
           ,
           That
           the
           Protestants
           are
           oblig'd
           to
           it
           ,
           for
           the
           liberty
           they
           have
           ,
           to
           live
           there
           ,
           without
           any
           fear
           ,
           in
           the
           exercise
           of
           Religion
           .
           But
           are
           not
           all
           sorts
           of
           Hereticks
           equally
           oblig'd
           to
           it
           ,
           for
           the
           liberty
           they
           have
           ,
           to
           live
           there
           quietly
           ,
           in
           the
           exercise
           of
           their
           Religions
           ?
           If
           this
           State
           has
           been
           a
           Sanctuary
           to
           those
           of
           the
           Reformation
           ,
           all
           Hereticks
           have
           also
           found
           refuge
           there
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           the
           others
           .
        
         
           In
           the
           General
           Diet
           held
           in
           Poland
           ,
           in
           the
           Year
           1658.
           it
           was
           Order'd
           ,
           by
           a
           Publick
           Decree
           ,
           That
           all
           the
           Socinians
           (
           who
           were
           very
           numerous
           in
           that
           Country
           ,
           and
           had
           their
           Principal
           Seat
           there
           )
           should
           be
           sent
           away
           thence
           ,
           and
           that
           ,
           after
           some
           time
           allow'd
           them
           for
           the
           disposal
           of
           their
           Estates
           ,
           they
           were
           to
           be
           for
           ever
           banish'd
           thence
           .
           The
           States-General
           did
           charitably
           receive
           all
           those
           amongst
           them
           ,
           who
           took
           refuge
           in
           this
           Country
           ;
           and
           it
           is
           particularly
           since
           that
           time
           ,
           that
           they
           have
           notoriously
           increas'd
           ,
           and
           multiply'd
           .
           If
           this
           State
           be
           the
           School
           of
           the
           
             Reformed
             Party
          
           ,
           it
           is
           in
           like
           manner
           the
           School
           ,
           the
           Damme
           ,
           and
           the
           Nursery
           of
           all
           Hereticks
           .
           Nay
           ,
           I
           am
           in
           some
           suspense
           ,
           whether
           it
           may
           not
           be
           justly
           maintain'd
           ,
           
             That
             Christian
             Religion
             has
             receiv'd
             more
             detriment
             ,
             than
             advantage
             ,
             by
             the
             establishment
             of
             this
             State
             ?
          
           And
           possibly
           ,
           for
           the
           same
           interest
           of
           
             Christian
             Religion
          
           ,
           
           there
           will
           be
           a
           greater
           obligation
           to
           wish
           its
           ruine
           ,
           then
           its
           wellfare
           .
           It
           will
           be
           a
           very
           hard
           matter
           ,
           to
           persuade
           you
           to
           this
           ,
           since
           you
           are
           of
           Opinion
           ,
           That
           the
           Republick
           of
           the
           
             Vnited
             Provinces
          
           is
           a
           
             most-Christian
             State
          
           ,
           and
           one
           of
           the
           
             most
             Reform'd
          
           ,
           even
           amongst
           Christians
           .
           I
           know
           not
           whether
           you
           will
           alwayes
           persist
           in
           this
           Sentiment
           ;
           but
           though
           you
           do
           ,
           I
           shall
           not
           forbear
           remaining
           ,
        
         
           
             
               Reverend
               Sir
               ,
               Your
               most
            
             ,
             &c.
             
          
           
             Vtrecht
             ,
             
               May
               13
               th
               .
               1673
            
          
        
      
       
         
         
           The
           Fifth
           LETTER
           .
        
         
           
             Reverend
             Sir
             ,
          
        
         
           IF
           I
           am
           not
           mistaken
           ,
           I
           have
           ,
           by
           irrefragable
           reasons
           proved
           ,
           That
           the
           States-General
           cannot
           be
           said
           to
           be
           of
           the
           
             Reformed
             Religion
          
           .
           But
           you
           will
           say
           ,
           If
           they
           are
           not
           of
           our
           Religion
           ,
           what
           Religion
           may
           they
           be
           said
           to
           be
           of
           ?
           I
           must
           confess
           they
           are
           of
           the
           
             Reformed
             Religion
          
           ,
           if
           ,
           to
           be
           so
           ,
           there
           needs
           no
           more
           ,
           than
           an
           external
           profession
           of
           it
           ,
           no
           more
           ,
           than
           to
           have
           ordain'd
           ,
           by
           a
           publick
           Decree
           ,
           That
           our
           Religion
           should
           be
           the
           
             Religion
             of
             State
          
           ,
           and
           that
           all
           those
           ,
           w●o
           would
           have
           any
           concern
           in
           the
           Government
           ,
           should
           make
           publick
           profession
           thereof
           ,
           and
           that
           there
           should
           be
           publick
           Schools
           for
           the
           Teaching
           of
           it
           .
           If
           these
           things
           make
           a
           sufficient
           Title
           to
           the
           
             Reformed
             Religion
          
           ,
           this
           State
           is
           doubtless
           of
           that
           Relig●on
           .
           But
           if
           ,
           as
           I
           think
           ,
           I
           have
           made
           it
           sufficiently
           appear
           ,
           This
           State
           follows
           a
           practice
           quite
           contrary
           to
           all
           Governments
           of
           that
           Religion
           ;
           and
           does
           ,
           by
           its
           Conduct
           ,
           and
           its
           own
           Confession
           of
           Faith
           ,
           and
           the
           publict
           Decree
           ,
           whereby
           it
           establish'd
           our
           Religion
           to
           be
           the
           
             Reli●ion
             of
             State
          
           ,
           destroy
           that
           very
           Religion
           ;
           let
           what
           will
           be
           said
           ,
           I
           maintain
           ,
           That
           this
           State
           is
           not
           of
           our
           Religion
           ,
           but
           only
           as
           to
           the
           denomination
           ,
           and
           not
           in
           effect
           .
        
         
           If
           you
           are
           pleas'd
           to
           remember
           ,
           Reverend
           Sir
           ,
           what
           I
           have
           hitherto
           told
           you
           all-along
           ,
           you
           will
           find
           it
           manifest
           ,
           That
           as
           
             Liberty
             of
             Conscience
          
           was
           established
           by
           the
           first
           Ordinances
           which
           they
           made
           in
           this
           Country
           ;
           so
           it
           may
           be
           said
           ,
           with
           reason
           ,
           That
           this
           State
           consonantly
           to
           its
           own
           Principles
           ,
           is
           ,
           and
           ought
           to
           be
           ,
           of
           all
           Religions
           .
           And
           if
           it
           be
           of
           
             all
             Religions
          
           ,
           it
           may
           well
           be
           said
           ,
           That
           it
           has
           not
           any
           particular
           Religion
           ,
           nor
           indeed
           that
           it
           has
           not
           any
           at
           all
           .
           True
           it
           is
           ,
           That
           there
           is
           one
           of
           them
           ,
           which
           is
           very
           common
           to
           most
           of
           the
           Inhabitants
           of
           the
           Country
           ,
           to
           wit
           ,
           that
           of
           A●arice
           ,
           which
           the
           Scripture
           calls
           
             Idolatry
             .
             Mammon
          
           has
           a
           vast
           nu●ber
           of
           
           Votaries
           ,
           in
           these
           parts
           ,
           and
           ,
           there
           is
           no
           question
           to
           be
           made
           ,
           of
           his
           being
           better
           ▪
           serv'd
           here
           ,
           than
           the
           true
           God
           is
           by
           most
           Christians
           .
           If
           we
           consider
           the
           whole
           course
           of
           Life
           ,
           amongst
           the
           Dutch
           ,
           as
           also
           the
           earnestness
           ,
           and
           application
           ,
           wherewith
           they
           are
           addicted
           to
           Commerce
           ,
           we
           cannot
           forbear
           acknowledging
           ,
           That
           the
           only
           design
           they
           seem
           to
           have
           ,
           is
           to
           grow
           rich
           ,
           and
           heap
           up
           Money
           .
           There
           comes
           into
           my
           mind
           ,
           upon
           this
           occasion
           ,
           what
           I
           read
           in
           an
           Italian
           Relation
           ,
           of
           a
           certain
           Voyage
           of
           the
           Dutch
           ;
           That
           being
           come
           into
           the
           Cities
           of
           Japan
           ,
           out
           of
           which
           there
           had
           been
           an
           expulsion
           of
           all
           the
           Christians
           ,
           and
           the
           Inhabitants
           of
           the
           Country
           having
           ask'd
           them
           ,
           whether
           ▪
           they
           were
           Christians
           ;
           they
           confidently
           answer'd
           ,
           
             Siamo
             Holandesi
             ,
             non
             Siamo
             Christiani
             .
             We
             are
             Hollanders
             ,
             we
             are
             not
             Christians
             .
          
           And
           indeed
           their
           deportment
           since
           ,
           as
           well
           in
           the
           Indies
           ,
           as
           in
           some
           other
           remoto
           places
           ,
           makes
           it
           evidently
           appear
           ,
           that
           they
           are
           extreamly
           concern'd
           for
           the
           advancement
           of
           their
           Commerce
           ,
           and
           not
           any
           thing
           at
           all
           ,
           for
           that
           of
           Religion
           .
        
         
           All
           other
           sorts
           of
           Christians
           ,
           as
           well
           Roman-Catholicks
           ,
           as
           Protestants
           (
           the
           Dutch
           only
           excepted
           ,
           if
           they
           may
           be
           admitted
           among
           the
           latter
           )
           make
           the
           Colonies
           they
           have
           ,
           in
           those
           remote
           parts
           of
           the
           World
           ,
           promotive
           to
           the
           advancement
           of
           
             Christian
             Religion
          
           ,
           by
           causing
           it
           to
           be
           Preached
           to
           the
           Infidels
           .
           This
           we
           see
           practic'd
           by
           the
           Catholicks
           ,
           with
           so
           great
           Zeal
           ,
           by
           the
           great
           number
           of
           Missionaries
           ,
           whom
           they
           send
           into
           the
           East
           and
           West-Indies
           ,
           and
           into
           the
           Turkish
           Empire
           ,
           to
           Preach
           the
           Gospel
           ,
           and
           to
           Convert
           those
           People
           ,
           to
           the
           Faith
           of
           
             Jesus
             Christ
          
           .
           Nay
           this
           is
           also
           done
           by
           the
           English
           ,
           who
           send
           Ministers
           of
           the
           Gospel
           ,
           into
           all
           parts
           where
           they
           have
           Colonies
           ,
           and
           order
           all
           the
           Directors
           of
           their
           Companies
           ,
           not
           to
           spare
           any
           thing
           ,
           for
           the
           advancement
           of
           
             Christian
             Religion
          
           ,
           and
           the
           conversion
           of
           Infidels
           .
           And
           so
           indeed
           ,
           as
           well
           the
           Catholicks
           as
           the
           Protestants
           ,
           make
           Use
           of
           Commerce
           ,
           as
           of
           a
           means
           ,
           to
           adv●nce
           the
           Religion
           of
           Jesus
           Christ
           ,
           and
           to
           bring
           those
           Idolatrous
           People
           to
           his
           Faith.
           
        
         
           But
           the
           Dutch
           ,
           on
           the
           contrary
           ,
           out
           of
           a
           detestable
           impiety
           ,
           are
           absolutely
           neglectful
           of
           all
           the
           Interests
           of
           Religion
           ,
           in
           the
           Indies
           ,
           in
           the
           Levant
           ,
           and
           other
           Places
           ,
           where
           they
           have
           great
           Colonies
           ,
           that
           they
           may
           do
           nothing
           prejudicial
           to
           the
           Interests
           of
           their
           Commerce
           .
           They
           give
           express
           and
           peremptory
           Orders
           to
           the
           Directors
           of
           their
           Companies
           ,
           and
           the
           Commanders
           of
           great
           Places
           ,
           to
           hinder
           the
           Unbelieving
           Inhabitants
           of
           those
           parts
           ,
           from
           coming
           
           to
           the
           knowledg
           of
           the
           Mysteries
           of
           
             Christian
             Religion
          
           ,
           and
           being
           Converted
           to
           the
           Faith
           of
           
             Jesus
             Christ
          
           .
           It
           is
           their
           persuasion
           ,
           That
           if
           some
           amongst
           those
           People
           ,
           were
           once
           become
           Christians
           ,
           they
           might
           ,
           by
           the
           Conversation
           they
           should
           have
           with
           other
           Christians
           ,
           come
           to
           the
           knowledg
           of
           that
           grand
           Mystery
           of
           Commerce
           ,
           and
           deprive
           them
           of
           some
           part
           of
           their
           Trade
           .
           They
           would
           rather
           see
           all
           those
           People
           Perish
           eternally
           in
           their
           Igno●●●ce
           ,
           than
           to
           see
           their
           Eyes
           open'd
           ,
           by
           the
           illuminations
           of
           Heaven
           ,
           and
           that
           they
           should
           share
           with
           them
           in
           the
           advantages
           of
           their
           Commerce
           .
           Is
           it
           not
           a
           horrid
           thing
           ,
           that
           the
           consideration
           of
           a
           Temporal
           Interest
           and
           Concern
           ,
           should
           stifle
           all
           Sentiments
           of
           Piety
           ,
           Charity
           ,
           and
           the
           Zeal
           they
           ought
           to
           have
           ,
           for
           the
           advancement
           of
           
             Christian
             Religion
          
           ,
           in
           a
           sort
           of
           people
           ,
           who
           would
           pass
           for
           Christians
           ,
           nay
           ,
           pretend
           to
           be
           of
           that
           division
           of
           Christians
           who
           assume
           the
           Title
           of
           Reformed
           ?
        
         
           We
           need
           only
           take
           an
           Observation
           of
           their
           Conduct
           ,
           in
           those
           Countries
           ,
           to
           make
           a
           discovery
           ,
           that
           they
           take
           not
           the
           least
           care
           in
           the
           World
           for
           the
           settlement
           of
           Religion
           there
           ,
           and
           that
           the
           only
           Concern
           they
           have
           to
           mind
           there
           ,
           is
           to
           see
           their
           Commerce
           in
           a
           stourishing
           condition
           .
           You
           will
           be
           fully
           satisfi'd
           of
           the
           truth
           of
           what
           I
           tell
           you
           ,
           when
           you
           shall
           have
           understood
           some
           of
           the
           remarkable
           Actions
           ,
           which
           the
           Dutch
           have
           done
           in
           the
           Cities
           of
           Japan
           ,
           and
           in
           some
           other
           Cities
           of
           the
           East-Indies
           .
        
         
           There
           were
           in
           the
           Territories
           of
           the
           Emperor
           of
           Japan
           ,
           many
           Portugueze-Merchants
           ,
           and
           a
           very
           great
           number
           of
           persons
           born
           in
           the
           Country
           ,
           who
           were
           Christians
           ,
           and
           had
           been
           converted
           by
           the
           Jesuits
           ,
           and
           other
           Catholick-Emissaries
           .
           The
           Dutch
           ,
           who
           do
           all
           they
           can
           ,
           to
           be
           alone
           in
           those
           remote
           places
           ,
           and
           to
           get
           all
           other
           European
           Natives
           out
           of
           them
           ,
           that
           all
           the
           Trade
           may
           be
           at
           their
           sole
           disposal
           ,
           found
           a
           means
           to
           make
           all
           the
           Roman-Catholicks
           odious
           to
           the
           Emperor
           ,
           that
           so
           he
           might
           have
           an
           occasion
           to
           Banish
           them
           out
           of
           his
           Dominions
           .
           To
           that
           end
           ,
           they
           inform'd
           him
           ,
           that
           those
           Catholicks
           had
           the
           Pope
           for
           their
           Head
           ,
           to
           whom
           they
           render'd
           an
           implicite
           obedience
           ,
           so
           far
           ,
           as
           that
           he
           did
           dispense
           with
           ,
           and
           discharge
           them
           of
           that
           subjection
           which
           they
           ought
           to
           their
           lawful
           Sovereigns
           .
           Consequently
           to
           this
           ,
           they
           represented
           to
           that
           Prince
           ,
           that
           it
           was
           dangerous
           for
           him
           ,
           to
           have
           in
           his
           Country
           so
           great
           a
           number
           of
           Subjects
           ,
           who
           acknowledging
           elsewhere
           a
           Sovereign
           Power
           ,
           superior
           to
           his
           ,
           might
           ,
           upon
           the
           reception
           of
           such
           a
           Command
           
           from
           it
           ,
           rebell
           against
           him
           .
           That
           Prince
           ,
           having
           ,
           by
           this
           malicious
           information
           ,
           conceived
           a
           very
           great
           Distrust
           of
           all
           the
           Christians
           in
           general
           ,
           resolv'd
           upon
           an
           absolute
           extermination
           of
           them
           ,
           and
           that
           not
           any
           one
           should
           ever
           be
           suffer'd
           to
           live
           in
           his
           Territories
           .
           All
           the
           Cruelties
           ,
           which
           the
           ancient
           Tyrants
           ever
           inflicted
           upon
           Christians
           ,
           are
           no
           great
           mattter
           ,
           in
           comp●rison
           of
           wh●t
           that
           Prince
           exercis●●
           upon
           the
           Catholicks
           ,
           who
           were
           found
           in
           his
           Dominions
           .
           He
           put
           all
           to
           death
           with
           grievous
           ,
           yet
           long-lasting
           Torments
           ▪
           nay
           there
           were
           many
           cut
           off
           who
           were
           not
           Christians
           ,
           upon
           a
           suspicion
           of
           their
           lying
           conceal'd
           amongst
           them
           ,
           that
           so
           not
           one
           might
           escape
           his
           fury
           .
           After
           so
           Bloody
           and
           Cru●l
           an
           Execution
           ,
           he
           put
           f●●●h
           most
           severe
           Ed●cts
           ,
           by
           which
           he
           Order'd
           ,
           That
           there
           should
           never
           any
           Christian
           b●
           permitted
           to
           enter
           into
           his
           Territories
           .
           The
           Dutch
           having
           crept
           in
           there
           ,
           as
           I
           told
           you
           before
           ,
           by
           a
           flat
           denial
           of
           their
           being
           Christians
           ,
           acknowledg'd
           afterwards
           ,
           that
           they
           were
           indeed
           some
           of
           those
           people
           ,
           to
           whom
           that
           name
           was
           given
           ;
           but
           that
           ,
           for
           their
           parts
           ,
           they
           minded
           only
           their
           Trade
           ,
           and
           never
           troubled
           themselves
           with
           any
           thoughts
           of
           their
           Religion
           .
           They
           voluntarily
           made
           this
           Profer
           ,
           that
           they
           would
           never
           speak
           to
           the
           Inhabitants
           of
           the
           Country
           ,
           either
           of
           God
           ,
           or
           of
           
             Jesus
             Christ
          
           ,
           or
           his
           Religion
           ,
           nor
           perform
           any
           Ex●rcise
           of
           it
           themselves
           ;
           and
           that
           they
           would
           so
           live
           ,
           as
           that
           it
           should
           not
           be
           known
           ,
           that
           they
           ever
           were
           Christians
           .
        
         
           The
           Emperor
           of
           Japan
           finding
           the
           Dutch
           so
           well
           inclin'd
           ,
           was
           of
           Opinion
           ,
           That
           he
           had
           no
           cause
           to
           be
           afraid
           of
           them
           ,
           though
           they
           were
           Chris\tians
           ,
           since
           they
           promis'd
           to
           live
           at
           such
           a
           Rate
           ,
           as
           if
           ,
           in
           effect
           ,
           they
           were
           not
           such
           .
           He
           thereupon
           permitted
           them
           to
           live
           i●
           his
           Territories
           ,
           upon
           the
           conditions
           ,
           which
           they
           had
           propos'd
           thems●lves
           .
           The
           Dutch
           ,
           who
           never
           executed
           any
           Treaty
           ,
           when
           it
           was
           more
           for
           their
           advantage
           to
           violate
           it
           ,
           did
           very
           Sincerely
           and
           Religiously
           observe
           this
           with
           the
           Emperor
           of
           Japan
           ,
           because
           it
           is
           destructive
           to
           the
           Interests
           of
           Religion
           ,
           and
           highly
           beneficial
           to
           them
           upon
           the
           sc●re
           of
           Trade
           .
           They
           have
           ever
           since
           Liv'd
           ,
           and
           still
           do
           Live
           ,
           in
           the
           Dominions
           of
           that
           Prince
           ,
           without
           the
           performance
           of
           any
           Function
           of
           God's
           Service
           ,
           without
           having
           the
           Bible
           ,
           or
           any
           other
           Godly
           Book
           ,
           or
           Treatise
           of
           Piety
           ,
           for
           the
           doing
           of
           their
           Devotions
           in
           private
           .
        
         
           But
           I
           am
           withal
           to
           ●●ll
           you
           ,
           Reverend
           Sir
           ▪
           That
           what
           you
           read
           of
           these
           Transactions
           of
           the
           Dutch
           ,
           in
           those
           remote
           parts
           of
           the
           
           World
           ,
           you
           are
           not
           so
           to
           look
           upon
           ,
           as
           if
           that
           so
           detestable
           an
           Agreement
           made
           with
           the
           Emperour
           ,
           was
           the
           private
           determination
           of
           a
           certain
           number
           of
           
             Dutch
             Merchants
          
           ,
           resident
           in
           those
           Parts
           :
           but
           you
           are
           to
           consider
           what
           they
           did
           ,
           as
           done
           by
           the
           express
           Order
           of
           the
           Directors
           of
           the
           Company
           establish'd
           in
           that
           Country
           ,
           who
           have
           ratify'd
           it
           ,
           and
           promoted
           the
           execution
           of
           it
           .
           All
           the
           Dutch
           ,
           who
           are
           return'd
           into
           this
           Country
           since
           that
           Treaty
           was
           made
           ,
           having
           publish'd
           it
           ,
           all
           that
           have
           any
           concern
           for
           Vertue
           and
           Christianity
           in
           these
           Provinces
           have
           express'd
           themselves
           much
           astonish'd
           thereat
           .
           The
           Ministry
           made
           some
           stirr
           about
           it
           ,
           and
           there
           have
           been
           several
           Acts
           made
           ,
           in
           their
           Synods
           ,
           in
           order
           to
           the
           making
           of
           Remonstrances
           and
           Complaints
           thereof
           to
           the
           States-General
           .
           I
           cannot
           precisely
           tell
           ,
           what
           Resolution
           tha
           States-General
           have
           yet
           taken
           thereupon
           ;
           but
           I
           know
           ,
           that
           they
           have
           not
           taken
           any
           ,
           for
           the
           breaking
           off
           of
           so
           Impious
           and
           so
           Scandalous
           a
           Treaty
           .
           Their
           deportment
           ,
           in
           this
           very
           case
           ,
           may
           justly
           create
           a
           belief
           ,
           That
           they
           are
           of
           the
           Sentiment
           of
           that
           Renegado
           
             Jew
             ,
             Spinosa
          
           ,
           of
           whom
           I
           have
           already
           given
           you
           an
           account
           ,
           though
           he
           has
           not
           any
           thing
           of
           Christianity
           .
        
         
           It
           is
           that
           Author's
           design
           ,
           in
           his
           Treatise
           ,
           called
           
             Tractatus
             Theologo-Politicus
             ,
             pag.
          
           62.
           of
           the
           Latine
           Edition
           ,
           to
           prove
           ,
           That
           Baptisme
           ,
           the
           
             Sacrament
             of
             the
             Eucharist
             ,
             Prayers
             ,
          
           and
           all
           the
           external
           Functions
           of
           Gods
           Service
           ,
           which
           are
           ,
           and
           ever
           have
           been
           common
           to
           all
           Christians
           ,
           in
           case
           they
           were
           appointed
           by
           
             Jesus
             Christ
          
           ,
           or
           his
           Apostles
           ,
           of
           which
           he
           saies
           that
           he
           is
           not
           assur'd
           ,
           were
           appointed
           ,
           as
           he
           maintains
           ,
           but
           only
           as
           external
           signs
           of
           the
           Universal
           Church
           ,
           and
           not
           as
           things
           any
           way
           conducive
           to
           Beatitude
           ,
           or
           having
           any
           sanctity
           in
           themselves
           ,
           and
           that
           they
           who
           live
           in
           Solitude
           are
           not
           oblig'd
           to
           the
           performance
           of
           them
           ;
           And
           that
           they
           who
           have
           their
           Habitations
           in
           remote
           Countries
           ,
           where
           the
           Exercise
           of
           the
           
             Christian
             Religion
          
           is
           prohibited
           ,
           are
           oblig'd
           to
           abstain
           from
           those
           Ceremonies
           ,
           and
           may
           yet
           do
           well
           enough
           ,
           in
           order
           to
           a
           happy
           life
           .
           To
           prove
           the
           Proposition
           ,
           which
           he
           advances
           ,
           he
           alledges
           the
           example
           of
           what
           the
           Dut●h
           do
           in
           Japan
           .
           In
           which
           Country
           ,
           the
           
             Christian
             Religion
          
           being
           prohibited
           ,
           he
           affirms
           That
           the
           Dutch
           are
           oblig'd
           ,
           by
           the
           command
           of
           the
           
             Directors
             of
             the
             East-India
             Company
          
           ,
           to
           forbear
           performing
           the
           exercise
           thereof
           .
           From
           whence
           it
           may
           be
           
           deduc'd
           ,
           That
           that
           Action
           ,
           of
           the
           Dutch
           ,
           in
           Japan
           done
           ,
           and
           maintain'd
           by
           a
           publick
           Authority
           must
           needs
           be
           impious
           and
           detestable
           ,
           since
           this
           Author
           ,
           who
           makes
           an
           open
           profession
           of
           Atheisme
           ,
           makes
           ,
           Use
           of
           it
           ,
           as
           an
           irrefragable
           Reason
           ,
           to
           prove
           ,
           That
           all
           the
           external
           Services
           of
           the
           
             Christian
             Religion
          
           ,
           are
           not
           at
           all
           contributory
           to
           ,
           or
           advancive
           of
           satisfaction
           ,
           and
           that
           men
           may
           be
           never
           the
           less
           happy
           ,
           though
           they
           never
           mind
           them
           .
           But
           if
           ,
           without
           any
           regard
           to
           the
           Sentiment
           of
           that
           Atheist
           ,
           you
           consider
           that
           Action
           in
           it self
           ▪
           what
           could
           you
           imagine
           in
           the
           World
           of
           greater
           horror
           ,
           than
           that
           some
           Christians
           ,
           who
           w●uld
           pass
           for
           such
           as
           are
           of
           the
           Calvinistical
           way
           of
           Reformation
           ,
           could
           ever
           be
           induc'd
           ,
           to
           make
           an
           express
           prohibition
           ,
           and
           ●n
           absolute
           retrenchment
           of
           all
           exercise
           of
           Religion
           ,
           to
           their
           people
           ,
           in
           a
           ●ountry
           ,
           that
           they
           may
           there
           have
           a
           quiet
           exercise
           of
           their
           Trade
           .
           And
           therefore
           I
           hope
           ,
           Reverend
           Sir
           ,
           that
           ,
           however
           you
           may
           have
           an
           over
           passionate
           kindness
           for
           the
           Dutch
           ,
           yet
           you
           will
           not
           have
           the
           confidence
           ,
           to
           deny
           their
           being
           guilty
           of
           the
           highest
           impiety
           ,
           in
           Sacrificing
           the
           interests
           of
           
             Christian
             Religion
          
           ,
           to
           their
           Commerce
           and
           Trade
           ,
           and
           making
           no
           Conscience
           ,
           or
           being
           any
           way
           concer●'d
           ,
           to
           see
           so
           many
           Persons
           live
           and
           Die
           ,
           without
           the
           exercise
           of
           any
           ▪
           Religion
           ,
           as
           if
           they
           were
           without
           God
           ,
           and
           without
           hope
           ,
           only
           to
           make
           an
           unhappy
           profit
           by
           the
           loss
           of
           their
           Souls
           .
        
         
           If
           you
           have
           had
           any
           account
           of
           the
           dreadful
           Execution
           which
           was
           committed
           by
           the
           same
           Dutch
           ,
           in
           the
           Island
           of
           Amboyna
           ,
           in
           the
           Year
           1622
           :
           it
           is
           impossible
           ,
           but
           you
           must
           acknowledg
           ,
           that
           there
           is
           not
           any
           consideration
           of
           Religion
           able
           to
           divert
           them
           from
           the
           exercising
           of
           all
           sorts
           of
           Cruelties
           ,
           when
           the
           Dispute
           is
           about
           their
           interest
           ,
           and
           profit
           .
           There
           were
           not
           Twenty
           English-men
           in
           that
           place
           ,
           and
           the
           Dutch
           had
           there
           a
           very
           gr●a●
           Colony
           ,
           and
           a
           well
           fortifi'd
           Castle
           ,
           with
           a
           good
           Garrison
           in
           it
           ▪
           They
           accus'd
           the
           English
           of
           having
           a
           design
           to
           take
           that
           C●stle
           ,
           though
           they
           had
           neither
           Arms
           ,
           nor
           Forces
           .
           They
           are
           taken
           into
           custody
           ,
           upon
           that
           pretended
           Conspiracy
           ;
           they
           are
           interrogated
           ,
           not
           one
           amongst
           them
           confesses
           any
           thing
           ,
           and
           there
           could
           be
           no
           Discoveries
           made
           of
           their
           being
           guilty
           of
           it
           .
           But
           it
           was
           for
           the
           interest
           of
           the
           Dutch-Company
           ,
           that
           they
           should
           be
           so
           .
           That
           they
           might
           be
           ●ender'd
           such
           in
           appearance
           ,
           they
           are
           put
           to
           the
           Torture
           .
           All
           ●he
           several
           Tortures
           of
           Fire
           and
           Water
           were
           us'd
           ,
           to
           make
           them
           acknowledg
           ,
           what
           the
           Dutch
           would
           have
           them
           to
           say
           .
           After
           some
           resistance
           of
           such
           Cruel
           Torments
           ,
           they
           were
           at
           last
           or'e-press'd
           by
           their
           violence
           ,
           
           and
           confess'd
           whatever
           they
           desir'd
           them
           .
           But
           after
           they
           had
           recover'd
           themselves
           again
           ,
           they
           disown'd
           all
           they
           had
           said
           in
           the
           midst
           of
           their
           Torments
           ;
           nay
           when
           they
           were
           just
           at
           the
           point
           of
           Execution
           ,
           they
           call'd
           God
           to
           attest
           their
           Innocence
           ,
           and
           besought
           him
           to
           make
           it
           appear
           ,
           after
           the
           death
           they
           were
           then
           going
           to
           suffer
           .
           He
           who
           was
           the
           Commander
           of
           that
           place
           ,
           and
           the
           unjust
           Judg
           who
           had
           condemn'd
           them
           ,
           were
           nothing
           mov'd
           at
           ,
           though
           fully
           convin'd
           of
           the
           Innocence
           of
           those
           Prisoners
           .
           But
           there
           be●ng
           a
           necessity
           of
           their
           Dying
           ,
           for
           the
           interest
           of
           the
           Dutch-Company
           ,
           Nine
           of
           the
           pretended
           Conspirators
           were
           Executed
           ,
           and
           some
           of
           them
           were
           set
           at
           Liberty
           ,
           who
           ,
           returning
           into
           England
           ,
           brought
           thither
           the
           News
           of
           that
           Cruel
           Massacre
           .
        
         
           Now
           ,
           Sir
           ,
           I
           would
           fain
           know
           ,
           what
           you
           would
           say
           of
           so
           inhumane
           and
           so
           barbarous
           an
           Action
           ?
           Will
           you
           still
           allow
           those
           to
           be
           good
           
             Reformed
             Christians
          
           ,
           who
           make
           no
           scruple
           to
           cut
           the
           Throats
           of
           their
           Brethren
           ,
           professing
           the
           same
           Religion
           as
           they
           do
           ,
           for
           a
           little
           Worldly
           Goods
           ,
           and
           for
           their
           own
           private
           Interests
           ?
           This
           Tragical
           Story
           ,
           is
           so
           well
           known
           all
           over
           the
           World
           ,
           that
           there
           is
           not
           any
           
             Dutch
             man
          
           dares
           deny
           it
           .
           Nay
           an
           Author
           of
           their
           own
           Nation
           ,
           one
           Aitzema
           ,
           in
           his
           Book
           ,
           entituled
           ,
           
             The
             Lyon-Combatant
             ,
             pag.
          
           211
           ,
           212
           ,
           213
           ,
           214
           ,
           215.
           
           Printed
           in
           the
           Year
           1661.
           gives
           a
           very
           large
           and
           particular
           description
           of
           it
           .
           And
           he
           makes
           out
           withal
           ,
           how
           false
           ,
           and
           unlikely
           the
           Accusation
           brought
           in
           against
           the
           English
           ,
           was
           ,
           and
           confidently
           affirms
           ,
           that
           it
           was
           fram'd
           ,
           upon
           no
           other
           score
           ,
           than
           that
           they
           might
           have
           a
           pretence
           to
           put
           them
           to
           death
           ,
           seize
           into
           their
           own
           hands
           all
           the
           effects
           of
           the
           
             English
             Company
          
           ,
           and
           ,
           by
           that
           detestable
           imposture
           ,
           render
           themselves
           Masters
           of
           all
           the
           Trade
           of
           the
           
             Moluccoes
             ,
             Amboyna
          
           ,
           and
           Banda
           .
        
         
           The
           same
           last-mention'd
           Author
           ,
           does
           ,
           in
           the
           same
           Book
           ,
           page
           113.
           
           Relate
           another
           Story
           of
           a
           greater
           Cruelty
           ,
           which
           the
           Dutch
           exercis'd
           upon
           the
           English
           ,
           in
           the
           Island
           of
           Banda
           .
           He
           says
           ,
           That
           the
           Dutch
           ,
           in
           order
           to
           their
           becoming
           Masters
           of
           that
           Island
           ,
           Massacred
           above
           Forty
           English-men
           ,
           and
           that
           ,
           after
           they
           had
           bound
           living
           Persons
           to
           dead
           Carkasses
           ,
           they
           cast
           them
           into
           the
           Sea
           ,
           and
           afterwards
           possess'd
           themselves
           of
           what
           they
           had
           ,
           which
           amounted
           to
           above
           Five
           and
           Twenty
           Thousand
           Pounds
           Sterling
           .
        
         
         
           True
           it
           is
           ,
           that
           they
           are
           somewhat
           to
           blame
           ,
           who
           still
           reproach
           the
           Dutch
           with
           those
           two
           Actions
           ,
           and
           particularly
           with
           that
           of
           Amboyna
           ,
           since
           they
           have
           made
           a
           considerable
           satisfaction
           for
           it
           ,
           in
           the
           Treaty
           which
           was
           concluded
           between
           them
           and
           the
           Protectordome
           of
           England
           ,
           in
           the
           Year
           1654.
           
           For
           ,
           the
           Parliament
           having
           enter'd
           into
           a
           War
           against
           them
           ,
           which
           ,
           amongst
           other
           p●etences
           ,
           had
           that
           of
           the
           Execution
           at
           Amboyna
           ,
           the
           Dutch
           gave
           the
           English
           several
           Millions
           of
           Guilders
           ,
           not
           simply
           to
           satisfie
           them
           for
           the
           damages
           ,
           they
           had
           caus'd
           them
           to
           suffer
           ,
           which
           could
           not
           have
           amounted
           to
           neer
           so
           great
           a
           Sum
           ,
           though
           they
           had
           taken
           away
           all
           the
           effects
           which
           they
           had
           in
           that
           Island
           ,
           and
           depriv'd
           them
           of
           the
           advantages
           they
           might
           have
           made
           by
           the
           Commerce
           of
           Thirty
           Years
           ;
           but
           also
           by
           way
           of
           Reparation
           ,
           for
           the
           Blood
           which
           they
           had
           Unjustly
           spilt
           .
           and
           to
           blot
           out
           the
           remembrance
           of
           so
           barbarous
           an
           Action
           .
        
         
           There
           would
           be
           a
           necessity
           of
           compiling
           a
           great
           Volume
           ▪
           if
           it
           were
           my
           design
           ,
           to
           make
           a
           collection
           ,
           of
           all
           the
           Cruel
           Actions
           ,
           which
           the
           Dutch
           have
           committed
           in
           the
           Indies
           ,
           and
           elsewhere
           ,
           upon
           the
           pure
           interest
           of
           Commerce
           .
           But
           I
           am
           apt
           to
           think
           ,
           that
           you
           will
           gladly
           spare
           me
           that
           Trouble
           ,
           and
           will
           think
           ,
           no
           doubt
           ,
           that
           I
           have
           said
           enough
           ,
           and
           haply
           too
           much
           ,
           upon
           a
           sub●ect
           which
           is
           not
           divertive
           to
           you
           .
           If
           then
           ,
           after
           a
           serious
           reflection
           upon
           what
           I
           have
           entertain'd
           you
           withal
           ,
           you
           find
           no
           abatement
           of
           the
           affection
           ,
           which
           you
           had
           for
           the
           
             Dutch
             ▪
          
           I
           must
           acknowledg
           ,
           That
           your
           friendship
           does
           ,
           in
           steadiness
           ,
           and
           strength
           ,
           exceed
           that
           of
           any
           other
           person
           in
           the
           World.
           And
           this
           gives
           some
           hopes
           ,
           that
           you
           will
           continue
           that
           part
           of
           it
           ,
           which
           you
           have
           promis'd
           me
           ,
           as
           I
           assure
           you
           of
           my
           ever
           remaining
           ,
        
         
           
             Reverend
             Sir
             ,
             Your
             ,
             &c
             ,
          
        
      
       
         
         
           The
           Sixth
           LETTER
           .
        
         
           
             Reverend
             Sir
             ,
          
        
         
           IT
           is
           no
           small
           affliction
           to
           me
           ,
           that
           I
           have
           given
           you
           an
           account
           of
           some
           things
           ,
           concerning
           the
           Dutch
           ,
           which
           certainly
           must
           have
           rais'd
           in
           you
           some
           disgust
           against
           me
           .
           I
           am
           therefore
           ,
           out
           of
           a
           pure
           fear
           of
           feeding
           or
           augmenting
           it
           ,
           resolv'd
           to
           be
           very
           careful
           ,
           in
           waving
           to
           tell
           you
           any
           ●hing
           henceforward
           ,
           which
           may
           give
           you
           any
           perplexity
           in
           reference
           to
           them
           .
           Nay
           ,
           I
           am
           willing
           to
           make
           you
           satisfaction
           for
           all
           I
           have
           already
           said
           to
           you
           .
           I
           acknowledg
           therefore
           ,
           to
           humour
           you
           ▪
           that
           the
           Dutch
           are
           as
           
             good
             Christians
          
           ,
           and
           as
           much
           of
           the
           true
           way
           of
           Reformation
           ,
           as
           you
           imagine
           them
           to
           be
           ,
           that
           is
           to
           say
           ,
           the
           best
           in
           the
           World.
           Though
           it
           were
           so
           ,
           yet
           I
           do
           not
           think
           you
           have
           any
           reason
           to
           cry
           out
           ,
           
             Arms
             ,
             Arms
          
           ,
           as
           you
           do
           ,
           to
           excite
           and
           encourage
           all
           that
           are
           of
           the
           Reformed
           Persuasion
           ,
           in
           Europe
           ,
           to
           come
           in
           to
           their
           relief
           .
           You
           know
           we●l
           enough
           ,
           that
           his
           most
           
             Christian
             Majesty
          
           is
           not
           engag'd
           in
           a
           War
           against
           them
           ,
           upon
           the
           matter
           of
           Religion
           but
           that
           the
           reason
           of
           his
           engaging
           in
           it
           ,
           was
           ,
           to
           chastize
           their
           ingratitutde
           ,
           to
           mortifie
           their
           violence
           ,
           and
           to
           teach
           them
           a
           new
           Lesson
           ,
           of
           paying
           him
           the
           respects
           they
           owe
           him
           ,
           and
           to
           keep
           within
           the
           bounds
           of
           modesty
           ,
           and
           reason
           .
           Were
           it
           a
           War
           upon
           the
           score
           of
           Religion
           ,
           do
           you
           think
           ,
           that
           the
           one
           or
           the
           other
           Branch
           of
           the
           House
           of
           Austria
           ,
           that
           of
           Germany
           ,
           and
           that
           of
           Spain
           ,
           which
           are
           the
           natural
           Enemies
           of
           our
           Religion
           ,
           and
           which
           ever
           have
           been
           the
           cruel
           Persecutors
           of
           those
           who
           profess
           it
           ,
           would
           have
           openly
           undertaken
           the
           defence
           of
           the
           Dutch
           ,
           in
           this
           cause
           ,
           against
           the
           interests
           of
           the
           
             Catholick
             Religion
          
           ,
           of
           which
           ,
           they
           make
           it
           their
           oftentation
           ,
           That
           they
           are
           the
           Pro●●ctors
           ,
           and
           especially
           the
           King
           of
           Spain
           ,
           whom
           ,
           for
           that
           reason
           ,
           the
           Pope
           has
           honour'd
           with
           the
           Title
           of
           
             Catholick
             King.
          
           
        
         
         
           But
           to
           shew
           you
           again
           ,
           how
           desirous
           I
           am
           to
           please
           you
           ,
           I
           will
           acknowledg
           also
           ,
           That
           this
           is
           a
           War
           of
           Religion
           .
           Let
           us
           see
           whether
           it
           will
           turn
           to
           our
           advantage
           ,
           to
           raise
           an
           Army
           ,
           consisting
           only
           ▪
           of
           men
           professing
           the
           true
           
             Reformed
             Religion
          
           ,
           and
           to
           bring
           it
           into
           the
           Serv●ce
           of
           the
           Dutch.
           Let
           us
           make
           a
           computation
           of
           all
           those
           who
           may
           be
           for
           us
           ;
           and
           of
           all
           those
           ,
           who
           ,
           in
           this
           case
           ,
           might
           be
           against
           us
           .
           But
           I
           think
           ,
           it
           were
           better
           ,
           we
           never
           meddled
           with
           that
           troublesome
           discrimination
           ,
           which
           would
           only
           convince
           us
           ,
           of
           the
           weakness
           of
           our
           little
           Flock
           ,
           and
           discover
           the
           great
           number
           of
           Enemies
           ,
           whom
           we
           should
           have
           to
           do
           withal
           .
           I
           am
           satisfy'd
           ,
           That
           a
           great
           number
           of
           good
           Soldiers
           might
           be
           got
           out
           of
           your
           Canton
           ,
           and
           the
           other
           
             Protestant
             Cantons
          
           .
           But
           I
           humbly
           conceive
           ,
           you
           will
           not
           be
           offended
           ,
           if
           I
           tell
           you
           ,
           That
           if
           
             Jesus
             Christ
          
           himself
           were
           upon
           Earth
           ,
           and
           had
           occasion
           for
           the
           assistance
           of
           your
           Forces
           ,
           you
           would
           not
           let
           him
           have
           any
           ,
           unless
           he
           would
           be
           sure
           to
           see
           you
           well
           paid
           for
           them
           ;
           and
           that
           he
           should
           not
           prevail
           so
           far
           with
           ▪
           you
           ,
           as
           that
           ,
           for
           his
           sake
           ,
           you
           would
           abolish
           the
           Proverb
           ,
           which
           you
           have
           br●ught
           into
           Vogue
           ,
           
             Point
             d●argent
             ,
             point
             de
             Suisse
             ,
             Mo
             Money
             ,
             no
             Swisse
          
           ;
           or
           as
           the
           English
           Saying
           has
           it
           ,
           
             'T
             is
             Money
             makes
             the
             Mare
             to
             go
             .
          
        
         
           And
           that
           it
           thus
           ▪
           happen'd
           ,
           is
           well
           known
           ,
           when
           the
           Chimerical
           Ambassador
           of
           the
           Dutch
           had
           under-hand
           sollicited
           your
           Cantons
           ,
           and
           had
           afterwards
           been
           admitted
           into
           your
           Assembly
           ,
           
             Conjuring
             and
             beseeching
             you
             ,
             by
             the
             love
             you
             ought
             to
             have
             for
             your
             dear
             Brethren
             ,
             not
             to
             abandon
             them
             in
             their
             Necessities
             ,
             and
             to
             maintain
             their
             Cause
             ,
             which
             was
             ,
             that
             of
             Jesus
             Christ
             .
          
           You
           know
           very
           well
           ,
           that
           all
           he
           could
           get
           of
           you
           ,
           in
           your
           Diet
           ,
           was
           ,
           That
           you
           had
           resolved
           one
           should
           be
           assembled
           ,
           for
           their
           sakes
           ,
           that
           you
           would
           spare
           some
           few
           rep●sts
           ,
           observe
           a
           Fast
           ,
           and
           pray
           for
           their
           Preservation
           and
           Prosperity
           .
           That
           if
           it
           were
           a
           Warre
           upon
           the
           score
           of
           Religion
           ,
           whatever
           Zeal
           you
           might
           have
           for
           ours
           ,
           the
           
             Catholick
             Cantons
          
           ,
           having
           no
           less
           ●or
           theirs
           ,
           we
           should
           find
           more
           Soldiers
           running
           out
           of
           the
           
             Catholick
             Cantons
          
           ,
           to
           maintain
           the
           Party
           of
           
             their
             Religion
          
           ,
           than
           there
           w●uld
           be
           Protestants
           ready
           ,
           to
           defend
           the
           Interests
           of
           ours
           .
           And
           as
           to
           the
           quality
           of
           the
           Soldiers
           of
           Swisserland
           ,
           if
           a
           computation
           may
           b●
           made
           of
           it
           ,
           by
           the
           Success
           of
           two
           Wars
           ,
           one
           wher●o●
           you
           had
           about
           140
           years
           ago
           ;
           and
           the
           other
           ,
           about
           18
           y●●rs
           since
           ,
           I
           am
           con●ident
           ,
           you
           cannot
           deny
           ,
           but
           that
           the
           Catholick
           Soldiers
           are
           much
           better
           ,
           than
           all
           those
           of
           your
           
             Protestant
             
             Cantons
          
           .
           Nay
           ,
           the
           Catholicks
           would
           have
           this
           advantage
           ,
           that
           their
           Pay
           would
           easily
           come
           out
           of
           the
           Exchequers
           of
           Kings
           and
           Princes
           ,
           if
           the
           Dispute
           were
           about
           the
           defence
           of
           their
           Religion
           .
           Whereas
           yours
           ,
           not
           finding
           any
           Protestant-Prince
           ,
           who
           were
           able
           to
           bear
           the
           charge
           of
           them
           ,
           should
           be
           forc'd
           to
           keep
           in
           your
           own
           Country
           ,
           and
           content
           themselves
           with
           the
           making
           of
           Vows
           ,
           for
           the
           preservation
           of
           our
           Religion
           .
           Nay
           ,
           I
           do
           not
           think
           ,
           that
           all
           the
           Princes
           or
           States
           of
           the
           
             Reformed
             Religion
          
           ,
           in
           Europe
           ,
           would
           be
           able
           ,
           all
           together
           ,
           and
           do
           their
           utmost
           ,
           to
           keep
           up
           an
           Army
           of
           Ten
           Thousand
           men
           ,
           when
           the
           safety
           of
           our
           Religion
           lay
           at
           stake
           .
           I
           do
           not
           speak
           of
           the
           Lutherans
           ,
           because
           the
           greatest
           part
           amongst
           them
           ,
           have
           such
           an
           animosity
           against
           us
           ,
           as
           loudly
           to
           affirm
           ,
           That
           they
           would
           rather
           enter
           into
           the
           Communion
           of
           the
           Catholicks
           ,
           than
           into
           Ours
           .
        
         
           If
           again
           ,
           on
           the
           other
           side
           ,
           you
           consider
           ,
           how
           many
           Kings
           ,
           Sovereign
           Princes
           ,
           Republicks
           ,
           and
           States
           ,
           there
           are
           in
           Europe
           ,
           who
           all
           profess
           the
           
             Romish
             Religion
          
           ,
           you
           may
           all
           imagine
           ,
           That
           as
           we
           are
           but
           a
           small
           handful
           ,
           in
           comparison
           of
           them
           ,
           so
           there
           is
           not
           any
           likelihood
           ,
           that
           we
           should
           be
           able
           to
           resist
           them
           ,
           if
           they
           were
           once
           engag'd
           in
           a
           War
           against
           us
           .
           Nay
           ,
           if
           it
           were
           an
           open
           and
           declar'd
           War
           ,
           upon
           the
           account
           of
           Religion
           ,
           you
           would
           soon
           find
           the
           Emperour
           and
           the
           King
           of
           Spain
           deserting
           the
           party
           of
           the
           Dutch
           ,
           and
           siding
           with
           that
           of
           their
           own
           Religion
           .
           The
           Catholicks
           have
           yet
           another
           most
           considerable
           advantage
           ,
           which
           would
           extreamly
           corroborat●
           their
           Party
           against
           ours
           .
           They
           have
           the
           Pope
           ,
           whom
           they
           all
           acknowledg
           to
           be
           the
           visible
           Head
           of
           the
           Church
           upon
           Earth
           ,
           who
           reunites
           them
           all
           for
           their
           Common
           Interest
           ,
           and
           would
           ,
           with
           much
           more
           Zeal
           ,
           publish
           a
           Croisado
           against
           us
           ,
           then
           ever
           he
           did
           any
           against
           the
           Turks
           .
           And
           indeed
           ,
           he
           has
           reason
           to
           have
           a
           greater
           animosity
           against
           us
           ,
           than
           against
           all
           the
           unbelieving
           people
           in
           the
           World.
           As
           he
           pretends
           to
           be
           the
           Spiritual
           Head
           of
           all
           Christians
           ,
           so
           he
           considers
           those
           who
           do
           not
           acknowledg
           him
           ,
           as
           revolted
           Subjects
           ,
           and
           Rebels
           to
           his
           Empire
           ;
           whereas
           he
           looks
           on
           the
           Turks
           and
           Heathens
           ,
           as
           Strangers
           ,
           who
           are
           out
           of
           his
           Jurisdiction
           ,
           and
           not
           within
           the
           extent
           of
           his
           Superintendency
           .
        
         
           And
           as
           a
           King
           is
           more
           incens'd
           against
           his
           Subjects
           who
           
           have
           revolted
           from
           the
           obedience
           they
           owe
           him
           ,
           then
           against
           forreign
           Enemies
           ,
           who
           are
           not
           within
           the
           Verge
           of
           his
           Dominions
           ;
           So
           the
           Pope
           suffers
           the
           Jews
           in
           his
           Territories
           ;
           and
           would
           never
           permit
           any
           of
           the
           
             Reformed
             Persuasion
          
           ,
           to
           harbour
           in
           them
           .
           His
           
             Pontifical
             Dignity
          
           will
           not
           suffer
           him
           ,
           ever
           to
           be
           reconcil'd
           to
           those
           ,
           who
           directly
           shock
           the
           authority
           ,
           which
           he
           pretends
           to
           have
           over
           all
           Christians
           .
        
         
           You
           may
           see
           by
           this
           ,
           the
           great
           danger
           ,
           into
           which
           those
           of
           our
           Religion
           would
           be
           reduc'd
           ,
           if
           your
           Zeal
           could
           enflame
           them
           so
           far
           ,
           as
           to
           make
           a
           Party
           ,
           in
           favour
           of
           the
           Dutch.
           Nay
           ,
           I
           leave
           it
           to
           your
           own
           Judgment
           ,
           whether
           it
           is
           any
           fault
           of
           yours
           ,
           if
           your
           inconsiderate
           Zeal
           has
           not
           excited
           the
           Catholicks
           ,
           to
           fall
           upon
           those
           of
           our
           
             Reformed
             Religion
          
           ,
           in
           those
           places
           ,
           where
           they
           lye
           expos'd
           to
           their
           mercy
           ,
           and
           that
           they
           have
           not
           made
           it
           their
           business
           to
           exterminate
           them
           ?
        
         
           But
           if
           your
           Zeal
           ,
           without
           Knowledg
           ,
           be
           injurious
           to
           all
           those
           of
           the
           
             Reformed
             Religion
          
           in
           general
           ,
           it
           is
           also
           very
           prejudicial
           to
           all
           your
           own
           Protestant-Cantons
           ,
           and
           to
           your
           Allies
           in
           particular
           ▪
           Assoon
           as
           ever
           you
           saw
           the
           first
           breaking
           out
           of
           this
           War.
           You
           your self
           ,
           Reverend
           Sir
           ,
           in
           the
           City
           of
           Berne
           ,
           and
           all
           your
           Ministers
           ,
           within
           the
           Extent
           of
           your
           Government
           ,
           were
           continually
           cajoling
           the
           people
           by
           their
           Seditious
           Sermons
           ,
           to
           make
           an
           Insurrection
           against
           those
           of
           your
           Magistrates
           ,
           who
           had
           given
           their
           judgment
           ,
           That
           there
           should
           be
           a
           Regiment
           of
           men
           granted
           to
           the
           most
           
             Christian
             King
          
           out
           of
           your
           Canton
           .
           If
           men
           would
           have
           believ'd
           you
           ,
           and
           all
           the
           Ministers
           of
           your
           Country-Villages
           ,
           it
           must
           have
           been
           accounted
           a
           very
           horrid
           Crime
           in
           you
           ,
           to
           suffer
           your
           Soldiers
           to
           be
           employ'd
           in
           a
           War
           against
           your
           
             beloved
             Brethren
             in
             Jesus
             Christ
          
           ,
           the
           Dutch.
           'T
           was
           this
           gave
           occasion
           to
           your
           Magistrate
           ,
           distracted
           by
           your
           Pulpit-bawling
           and
           by
           the
           clamours
           of
           the
           multitude
           ,
           whom
           you
           had
           inflam'd
           into
           an
           Insurrection
           ,
           to
           write
           unseasonable
           Letters
           upon
           Letters
           ,
           to
           the
           Officers
           of
           your
           Regiment
           ,
           fraught
           with
           terrible
           menaces
           ,
           if
           they
           s●rv'd
           in
           this
           War
           against
           the
           
             Vnited
             Provinces
          
           .
           Nay
           ,
           you
           thought
           it
           not
           enough
           to
           put
           in
           a
           Charge
           against
           your
           own
           Canton
           ,
           upon
           the
           account
           of
           its
           having
           granted
           Forces
           to
           his
           most
           
             Christian
             Majesty
          
           ,
           and
           his
           not
           preventing
           their
           being
           employ'd
           against
           the
           Dutch
           ,
           but
           you
           
           must
           also
           Panegyrically
           celebrate
           the
           Cantons
           of
           Zurick
           ,
           and
           Schaffouse
           ,
           for
           their
           refusal
           to
           give
           him
           any
           .
           I
           cannot
           comprehend
           any
           reason
           you
           should
           have
           to
           name
           Schaffouse
           ,
           which
           being
           a
           poor
           little
           Canton
           ,
           has
           but
           one
           half-Company
           in
           the
           Service
           ,
           but
           a
           hands-breadth
           of
           ground
           within
           its
           Jurisdiction
           ,
           and
           can
           raise
           but
           Two
           Companies
           at
           the
           most
           .
           And
           you
           speak
           of
           it
           ,
           as
           if
           that
           refusal
           of
           their
           Forces
           had
           been
           very
           detrimental
           to
           the
           Kings
           Affairs
           ,
           and
           much
           retarded
           the
           Progress
           of
           his
           Conquests
           .
           And
           yet
           it
           is
           certain
           ,
           in
           the
           mean
           time
           ,
           That
           all
           the
           best
           qualify'd
           Persons
           in
           the
           Councel
           of
           that
           Canton
           had
           promis'd
           to
           grant
           the
           Companies
           which
           the
           
             most
             Christian
             King
          
           required
           of
           it
           .
           But
           One
           Factious
           person
           amongst
           them
           occasion'd
           the
           breaking
           of
           that
           Resolution
           ,
           upon
           this
           score
           ,
           that
           besides
           his
           being
           a
           man
           absolutely
           devoted
           to
           the
           Dutch
           ,
           ever
           since
           his
           reception
           of
           a
           Present
           from
           them
           ,
           when
           he
           sojourn'd
           in
           this
           Country
           ,
           he
           was
           out
           of
           hopes
           of
           getting
           the
           Command
           of
           a
           Company
           for
           one
           of
           his
           own
           Relations
           ,
           that
           he
           might
           make
           some
           advantage
           thereby
           .
        
         
           But
           ,
           as
           to
           the
           Canton
           of
           Zurick
           ,
           I
           must
           acknowledg
           it
           to
           be
           powerful
           ,
           and
           that
           it
           might
           have
           rais'd
           several
           Companies
           of
           good
           Soldiers
           .
           I
           know
           also
           ,
           That
           its
           Councel
           consists
           of
           Persons
           of
           very
           good
           worth
           ,
           such
           as
           have
           Wit
           ,
           and
           Honour
           ,
           Vigour
           ,
           and
           Constancy
           ,
           if
           the
           thing
           had
           depended
           upon
           them
           ;
           and
           they
           knew
           their
           own
           Interest
           much
           better
           ,
           than
           to
           have
           deny'd
           his
           
             Most
             Christian
             Majesty
          
           the
           Forces
           he
           had
           required
           of
           them
           .
           But
           the
           mischief
           of
           it
           ,
           as
           you
           know
           ,
           is
           ,
           That
           they
           are
           not
           the
           absolute
           Masters
           .
           The
           Sovereign
           Authority
           lies
           in
           the
           hands
           of
           the
           Councel
           of
           
             Two
             Hundred
          
           ,
           consisting
           ,
           for
           the
           most
           part
           ,
           of
           much
           Heat
           ,
           and
           little
           Prospect
           ,
           of
           much
           Obstinacy
           ,
           and
           little
           Reason
           .
           It
           is
           no
           wonder
           then
           ,
           that
           ,
           the
           Ministers
           ,
           having
           enflam'd
           that
           multitude
           with
           the
           zealous
           Concern
           of
           Religion
           ,
           they
           could
           not
           be
           dispos'd
           ,
           to
           grant
           Forces
           to
           his
           
             most
             Christian
             Majesty
          
           ,
           though
           he
           should
           have
           no
           Design
           to
           employ
           them
           against
           the
           Dutch.
           
        
         
           I
           must
           confess
           further
           ,
           Sir
           ,
           That
           I
           am
           very
           much
           astonish'd
           ,
           at
           your
           Undertaking
           ,
           to
           make
           a
           confident
           justification
           of
           those
           Two
           Cantons
           ,
           for
           their
           having
           deny'd
           Forces
           to
           the
           
             most
             Christian
             King
          
           ;
           as
           also
           ,
           that
           after
           you
           had
           blamed
           your
           own
           ,
           for
           their
           having
           
           granted
           a
           Regiment
           ,
           you
           should
           undertake
           to
           vindicate
           all
           it
           did
           afterwards
           ;
           either
           to
           have
           it
           recall'd
           ,
           or
           to
           prevent
           its
           being
           employ'd
           against
           the
           Dutch.
           It
           will
           be
           no
           hard
           matter
           ,
           for
           me
           ,
           to
           make
           it
           appear
           to
           you
           ,
           That
           this
           Conduct
           of
           yours
           ▪
           b●sides
           its
           being
           most
           unjust
           ,
           may
           also
           be
           very
           prejudicial
           ,
           even
           as
           to
           what
           relates
           to
           the
           interests
           of
           Religion
           .
           You
           cannot
           forbear
           granting
           your selves
           to
           be
           absolutely
           unjust
           ,
           if
           you
           deny
           the
           demeaning
           of
           your selves
           towards
           his
           most
           
             Christian
             Majesty
          
           ,
           as
           you
           would
           have
           him
           demean
           himself
           towards
           you
           .
        
         
           For
           instance
           ,
           If
           it
           should
           happen
           ,
           that
           you
           were
           attack'd
           by
           the
           King
           of
           Spain
           ,
           or
           the
           Emperour
           ,
           by
           the
           Duke
           of
           Savoy
           ,
           by
           the
           Catholick-Cantons
           ,
           or
           by
           some
           other
           Prince
           ,
           of
           the
           same
           Religion
           ,
           you
           would
           desire
           ,
           That
           his
           
             most
             Christian
             Majesty
          
           would
           assist
           you
           against
           them
           ,
           by
           vertue
           of
           the
           Alliance
           there
           is
           between
           you
           and
           him
           .
           If
           the
           King
           should
           deny
           you
           the
           Forces
           you
           desired
           ,
           and
           alledge
           ,
           That
           he
           could
           not
           assist
           you
           ,
           being
           of
           the
           
             Reformed
             Religion
          
           ,
           against
           Catholick
           Princes
           ,
           you
           would
           complain
           of
           it
           ,
           and
           affirm
           ,
           That
           the
           Most
           
             Christian
             King
          
           does
           not
           observe
           the
           Al●iance
           he
           has
           made
           with
           you
           .
           How
           then
           do
           you
           not
           see
           ,
           that
           the
           most
           
             Christian
             King
          
           has
           just
           cause
           of
           complaining
           ,
           That
           you
           are
           unwilling
           to
           supply
           him
           with
           Forces
           ,
           against
           the
           Dutch
           ,
           because
           they
           are
           of
           the
           
             Reformed
             Religion
          
           ?
           Do
           you
           not
           further
           observe
           ,
           That
           ,
           by
           your
           indiscreet
           Zeal
           ,
           you
           deprive
           your selves
           of
           all
           the
           Advantages
           ,
           which
           you
           might
           expect
           from
           the
           Alliance
           there
           is
           between
           You
           and
           the
           most
           
             Christian
             King
          
           ,
           by
           giving
           him
           just
           cause
           to
           deny
           you
           assistance
           ,
           if
           you
           should
           come
           to
           desire
           it
           of
           him
           ?
           If
           the
           Duke
           of
           Savoy
           should
           enter
           into
           a
           War
           against
           you
           ,
           upon
           the
           Pretensions
           he
           has
           to
           the
           Country
           of
           Vaud
           ,
           tell
           me
           ,
           Whether
           you
           would
           be
           so
           presumptuous
           as
           to
           desire
           assistance
           from
           the
           Most
           Christian
           King
           ?
           You
           would
           not
           have
           your
           Forces
           to
           serve
           his
           most
           
             Christian
             Majesty
          
           against
           the
           Dutch
           ,
           b●cause
           they
           are
           of
           our
           Reformed
           way
           of
           Religion
           ,
           though
           they
           are
           not
           your
           Allies
           .
           By
           what
           Right
           can
           you
           pretend
           ,
           That
           the
           most
           
             Christian
             King
          
           should
           give
           you
           Forces
           ,
           to
           serve
           you
           ,
           who
           are
           not
           of
           his
           Religion
           ,
           against
           a
           Catholic
           Prince
           ,
           who
           ,
           besides
           his
           being
           in
           alliance
           with
           him
           ,
           has
           also
           the
           honour
           of
           being
           nearly
           related
           to
           him
           ?
           Besides
           ,
           you
           make
           but
           an
           ill
           acknowl●dgment
           ,
           of
           the
           Favour
           which
           the
           most
           
           
             Christian
             King
          
           ,
           did
           you
           ,
           not
           Two
           Years
           since
           ,
           when
           he
           openly
           undertook
           your
           protection
           ,
           against
           the
           Bishop
           of
           Basil
           ,
           who
           was
           going
           to
           give
           you
           some
           disturbance
           .
           He
           had
           establish'd
           a
           Catholick
           Church
           ,
           upon
           some
           part
           of
           your
           Territories
           ,
           as
           he
           pretended
           that
           he
           had
           a
           right
           to
           do
           .
           The
           Pope
           ,
           the
           Emperour
           ,
           and
           the
           King
           of
           Spain
           ,
           had
           openly
           taken
           his
           part
           ,
           by
           reason
           of
           the
           Concern
           of
           the
           
             Catholick
             Religion
          
           .
           The
           most
           
             Christian
             King
          
           having
           been
           inform'd
           ,
           That
           he
           had
           not
           any
           Right
           to
           establish
           that
           Church
           ,
           upon
           your
           Territories
           ,
           sent
           a
           Message
           to
           him
           ,
           That
           if
           he
           did
           not
           restore
           things
           ,
           to
           the
           condition
           they
           were
           in
           before
           ,
           and
           forbear
           making
           any
           alteration
           ,
           he
           would
           openly
           grant
           you
           assistance
           against
           him
           .
        
         
           You
           know
           ,
           Sir
           ,
           That
           the
           said
           Prelate
           ,
           standing
           more
           in
           awe
           of
           the
           most
           Christian
           King's
           Indignation
           ,
           than
           relying
           on
           the
           Succours
           of
           the
           Pope
           ,
           the
           Emperour
           ,
           and
           the
           King
           of
           Spain
           ,
           thought
           in
           his
           best
           course
           ,
           to
           renounce
           his
           Pretensions
           ,
           and
           to
           give
           over
           disturbing
           you
           .
           If
           the
           most
           
             Christian
             King
          
           had
           done
           then
           ,
           what
           you
           have
           done
           at
           the
           present
           ,
           he
           would
           have
           been
           far
           enough
           from
           entertaining
           so
           much
           as
           a
           thought
           of
           protecting
           you
           ,
           being
           of
           the
           
             Reformed
             Religion
          
           ,
           against
           a
           Bishop
           ,
           especially
           in
           a
           Cause
           ,
           wherein
           the
           Interest
           of
           the
           
             Catholick
             Religion
          
           was
           concern'd
           .
        
         
           You
           know
           also
           ,
           That
           the
           Emperour
           ,
           and
           the
           King
           of
           Spain
           ,
           who
           have
           a
           particular
           Alliance
           with
           the
           
             Catholick
             Cantons
          
           ,
           are
           oblig'd
           to
           assist
           them
           ,
           in
           case
           they
           should
           enter
           into
           a
           Warre
           against
           you
           ,
           or
           against
           the
           other
           
             Protestant
             Cantons
          
           .
           Now
           it
           is
           manifest
           ,
           That
           ,
           upon
           such
           occasions
           ,
           you
           cannot
           hope
           for
           any
           assistance
           ,
           but
           from
           the
           most
           
             Christian
             King.
          
           If
           therefore
           you
           would
           not
           have
           your
           Forces
           to
           serve
           his
           most
           
             Christian
             Majesty
          
           ,
           against
           the
           Dutch
           ,
           who
           are
           not
           your
           Allies
           ,
           meerly
           upon
           the
           score
           of
           their
           professing
           the
           same
           Religion
           ,
           as
           you
           do
           ,
           I
           do
           not
           see
           ,
           how
           you
           can
           desire
           the
           most
           
             Christian
             King
          
           ,
           to
           grant
           you
           Forces
           ,
           to
           serve
           you
           ,
           who
           are
           of
           the
           
             Reformed
             Religion
          
           ,
           against
           the
           
             Catholick
             Cantons
          
           ,
           who
           are
           of
           his
           Allies
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           you
           .
        
         
           You
           know
           further
           ,
           That
           the
           City
           of
           Geneva
           is
           under
           the
           protection
           of
           France
           ,
           ever
           since
           the
           time
           of
           Henry
           the
           Third
           ,
           who
           granted
           it
           thereto
           against
           Philibert-Emanuel
           ,
           Duke
           of
           Savoy
           .
           
           All
           the
           Successors
           of
           that
           King
           have
           continu'd
           their
           protection
           to
           the
           same
           City
           ,
           against
           the
           Successors
           of
           that
           ancient
           Duke
           ,
           who
           are
           the
           troublesome
           Neighbours
           ,
           and
           in
           a
           manner
           the
           only
           Enemies
           ,
           whom
           that
           Republick
           has
           any
           cause
           to
           fear
           .
        
         
           You
           see
           then
           ,
           by
           this
           proceduce
           of
           Henry
           the
           Third
           ,
           of
           France
           ,
           and
           the
           Kings
           who
           succeeded
           him
           ,
           That
           though
           they
           were
           very
           zealous
           for
           their
           Religion
           ,
           yet
           they
           made
           no
           scruple
           ,
           of
           giving
           their
           Protection
           to
           a
           Protestant-State
           ,
           against
           a
           Catholick
           Prince
           .
           Had
           your
           Politicks
           been
           known
           in
           the
           World
           ,
           those
           Princes
           would
           not
           have
           become
           guilty
           ,
           of
           what
           you
           think
           a
           great
           crime
           ,
           That
           a
           King
           should
           defend
           a
           State
           ,
           professing
           a
           Religion
           different
           from
           his
           own
           ,
           against
           a
           Prince
           ,
           who
           is
           of
           the
           same
           Religion
           with
           him
           .
           If
           this
           Maxim
           comes
           ,
           once
           to
           establish'd
           ,
           you
           may
           very
           well
           fear
           ,
           that
           the
           most
           
             Christian
             King
          
           ,
           having
           his
           Eves
           open'd
           by
           your
           illuminations
           ,
           and
           following
           your
           example
           ,
           may
           withdraw
           his
           Protection
           from
           Geneva
           ,
           that
           so
           he
           may
           avoid
           the
           Reproach
           ,
           which
           may
           be
           made
           to
           him
           ,
           of
           having
           succour'd
           a
           City
           of
           the
           Hugu●not-Persuasion
           ,
           against
           a
           Prince
           of
           his
           own
           Religion
           .
        
         
           From
           this
           you
           may
           also
           take
           this
           further
           measure
           ,
           That
           the
           implicite
           affection
           which
           you
           have
           for
           the
           Dutch
           ,
           does
           expose
           you
           ,
           as
           also
           the
           Protestant-Cantons
           ,
           and
           your
           Allies
           ,
           to
           an
           evident
           danger
           ,
           of
           not
           receiving
           any
           more
           assistance
           from
           his
           most
           
             Christian
             Majesty
          
           ,
           against
           a
           Catholick
           Prince
           ,
           or
           State.
           If
           it
           should
           ever
           happen
           ,
           that
           you
           were
           concern'd
           in
           such
           a
           War
           ,
           the
           plausible
           pretence
           of
           Zeal
           for
           Religion
           ,
           would
           prove
           very
           prejudicial
           to
           you
           ,
           in
           depriving
           you
           of
           the
           Assistance
           of
           the
           most
           
             Christian
             King
          
           ,
           who
           ,
           certainly
           ,
           is
           the
           greatest
           ,
           or
           ,
           to
           say
           better
           ,
           the
           only
           Support
           and
           Refuge
           that
           you
           can
           have
           .
           Your
           Injustice
           therefore
           ,
           and
           your
           Ingratitude
           ,
           are
           so
           much
           the
           greater
           ,
           in
           as
           much
           as
           you
           cannot
           deny
           ,
           but
           that
           France
           has
           many
           times
           openly
           given
           its
           Protection
           to
           the
           Protestants
           ,
           in
           opposition
           to
           the
           Catholicks
           .
        
         
           You
           know
           ,
           That
           ,
           for
           a
           long
           time
           ,
           it
           assisted
           the
           Dutch
           ,
           against
           the
           King
           of
           Spain
           ,
           even
           before
           there
           was
           any
           open
           War
           between
           the
           Two
           Crowns
           .
        
         
         
           You
           know
           also
           ,
           That
           France
           gave
           an
           Overt
           Protection
           to
           the
           Protestant-Princes
           of
           Germany
           ,
           against
           the
           Emperour
           ,
           who
           had
           already
           devested
           several
           of
           them
           of
           their
           Dominions
           ,
           and
           would
           ,
           under
           the
           pretence
           of
           Religion
           ,
           become
           Master
           of
           all
           Germany
           .
           The
           late
           King
           ,
           Lewis
           XIII
           .
           made
           an
           Alliance
           with
           the
           King
           of
           Swed●n
           ,
           against
           the
           House
           of
           Austria
           ,
           and
           got
           that
           Prince
           to
           come
           out
           of
           the
           remoter
           Parts
           of
           the
           North
           ,
           to
           oppose
           the
           Ambitious
           Designs
           of
           that
           House
           ,
           to
           raise
           up
           the
           oppressed
           Princes
           ,
           ●nd
           to
           defend
           the
           Liberty
           of
           the
           Empire
           .
        
         
           After
           the
           Death
           of
           
             Gustavus
             Adolphus
             ,
             France
          
           did
           again
           joyn
           its
           Arms
           ,
           with
           those
           of
           his
           Successors
           ,
           and
           the
           Generals
           of
           that
           Great
           King
           ,
           in
           a
           continuance
           of
           its
           Protection
           to
           the
           Protestants
           ,
           and
           for
           the
           re
           establishing
           of
           those
           Princ●s
           in
           their
           Territories
           ,
           who
           had
           been
           dispossess'd
           of
           them
           .
           But
           ,
           on
           the
           contrary
           ,
           the
           House
           of
           Austria
           had
           the
           greatest
           part
           of
           its
           Allianc●s
           with
           the
           Catholicks
           ,
           against
           the
           Protestants
           .
           'T
           was
           upon
           this
           ,
           that
           the
           Adherents
           of
           the
           Emperour
           ,
           and
           the
           King
           of
           Spain
           ,
           took
           occasion
           to
           publish
           Libels
           against
           the
           most
           
             Christian
             King
          
           ,
           whom
           they
           accus'd
           of
           being
           a
           
             Protector
             of
             Hereticks
          
           ,
           and
           fighting
           for
           them
           ,
           against
           the
           Interests
           of
           the
           
             Catholick
             Religion
          
           .
           And
           yet
           all
           those
           Accusations
           which
           were
           put
           up
           against
           France
           ,
           upon
           that
           score
           ,
           obstructed
           not
           its
           persisting
           in
           the
           stipulations
           ,
           it
           had
           made
           to
           its
           Allies
           ,
           and
           continuing
           its
           Protection
           to
           the
           Protestants
           ,
           against
           the
           Violence
           of
           the
           Emperour
           ,
           who
           endeavour'd
           to
           oppress
           them
           .
           Nay
           ,
           the
           King
           of
           France
           is
           in
           a
           manner
           the
           only
           Catholick
           Prince
           ,
           who
           allows
           the
           Protestants
           the
           Exercise
           of
           their
           Religion
           in
           his
           Dominions
           ;
           whereas
           the
           King
           of
           Spain
           would
           never
           Tolerate
           ,
           in
           his
           ,
           the
           Exercise
           of
           any
           other
           Religion
           than
           the
           Catholick
           .
           And
           the
           Emperour
           has
           forc'd
           all
           the
           Protestants
           out
           of
           his
           Hereditary
           Countries
           .
           And
           ,
           both
           the
           Emperour
           ,
           and
           the
           King
           of
           Spain
           ,
           think
           it
           highly
           meritorious
           ,
           in
           the
           sight
           of
           God
           ,
           to
           be
           the
           irreconcileable
           Enemies
           ,
           and
           implacable
           Persecutors
           of
           those
           whom
           they
           call
           Hereticks
           .
        
         
           In
           the
           mean
           ,
           
             Reverend
             Sir
          
           ,
           it
           appears
           by
           your
           deportment
           ,
           That
           ,
           l●t
           the
           Protestants
           be
           never
           so
           transcedently
           oblig'd
           to
           his
           most
           
             Christian
             Majesty
          
           ,
           they
           should
           so
           little
           mind
           it
           ,
           as
           that
           the
           only
           resentment
           they
           have
           ,
           should
           have
           no
           other
           object
           ,
           than
           
           the
           Calamities
           ,
           which
           the
           Dutch
           endure
           by
           the
           War
           ,
           wherein
           he
           is
           now
           engag'd
           against
           them
           .
           Your
           Compassion
           is
           so
           great
           for
           their
           Misery
           ,
           that
           you
           think
           you
           have
           a
           dispensation
           ,
           to
           forget
           all
           the
           Kindnesses
           ,
           which
           the
           most
           
             Christian
             King
          
           hath
           done
           to
           those
           of
           the
           
             Reformed
             Religion
          
           ,
           and
           not
           so
           much
           as
           to
           reflect
           on
           those
           he
           may
           yet
           do
           you
           ,
           in
           giving
           you
           assistance
           against
           your
           Enemies
           .
           In
           a
           word
           ,
           your
           Bowels
           do
           so
           yearn
           for
           those
           poor
           Brethren
           of
           yours
           ,
           the
           Dutch
           ,
           that
           ,
           provided
           their
           preservation
           be
           secur'd
           ,
           you
           do
           not
           much
           concern
           your self
           ,
           what
           may
           become
           of
           you
           ,
           and
           all
           those
           of
           the
           
             Reformed
             Religion
          
           .
           You
           are
           so
           blindly
           infatuated
           ,
           upon
           this
           subject
           ,
           that
           ,
           provided
           you
           demonstrate
           your
           good
           Inclinations
           for
           the
           Dutch
           ,
           you
           seem
           to
           be
           indifferent
           ,
           that
           you
           are
           thought
           a
           bad
           Huguenot
           ,
           and
           most
           wretched
           Politician
           .
           The
           Dutch
           ,
           certainly
           ,
           are
           the
           best
           Politicians
           in
           the
           World
           ,
           for
           things
           relating
           to
           Religion
           ,
           which
           they
           never
           made
           any
           other
           Use
           of
           ,
           then
           that
           of
           accommodating
           it
           to
           the
           Interests
           of
           State.
           Nay
           they
           have
           alwaies
           been
           so
           little
           concern'd
           ,
           at
           the
           danger
           of
           those
           who
           profess'd
           the
           same
           
             Reformed
             Religion
          
           ,
           that
           they
           made
           no
           scruple
           at
           all
           ,
           of
           entring
           into
           a
           War
           for
           their
           destruction
           ,
           upon
           the
           pure
           score
           of
           Money
           .
        
         
           Of
           which
           take
           this
           instance
           .
           I
           think
           you
           need
           not
           be
           inform'd
           ,
           
             Reverend
             Sir
          
           ,
           how
           that
           the
           Dutch
           sent
           a
           certain
           number
           of
           Ships
           ,
           to
           the
           most
           
             Christian
             King
          
           ,
           for
           the
           reinforcing
           of
           his
           Fleet
           ,
           by
           which
           Rochell
           was
           then
           block'd
           up
           .
           That
           was
           ,
           indeed
           ,
           a
           War
           ,
           upon
           the
           pure
           score
           of
           Religion
           ,
           in
           which
           the
           most
           
             Christian
             King
          
           was
           engag'd
           against
           his
           Subjects
           ,
           to
           get
           out
           of
           their
           hands
           the
           fortify'd
           places
           ,
           which
           they
           were
           possess'd
           of
           ,
           and
           would
           keep
           ,
           to
           secure
           the
           observance
           of
           the
           Edicts
           ,
           and
           the
           Exercise
           of
           their
           Religion
           .
           All
           the
           whole
           party
           of
           the
           Reformed-Religion
           ,
           in
           France
           ,
           were
           afraid
           ,
           That
           as
           soon
           as
           the
           King
           should
           have
           taken
           Rochell
           ,
           he
           would
           abrogate
           the
           Edict
           of
           Nantes
           ,
           and
           absolutely
           take
           away
           the
           Exercise
           of
           the
           
             Calvinisticall
             Religion
          
           All
           the
           other
           
             Reformed
             Princes
          
           ,
           and
           States
           had
           the
           same
           apprehension
           ,
           insomuch
           ,
           that
           publick
           prayers
           were
           made
           in
           all
           parts
           for
           the
           preservation
           of
           Rochell
           ,
           as
           a
           City
           ,
           on
           which
           depended
           the
           safety
           of
           all
           those
           of
           the
           
             Reformed
             Religion
          
           ,
           in
           France
           .
           They
           had
           the
           same
           thoughts
           in
           the
           
             Vnited
             Provinces
          
           ,
           and
           prayers
           were
           made
           to
           God
           ,
           in
           all
           Churches
           ,
           that
           he
           would
           be
           graciously
           
           plea●d
           ,
           to
           preserve
           Rochell
           ,
           as
           the
           impregnable
           Fort
           of
           those
           of
           the
           
             Reformed
             Religion
          
           .
           And
           yet
           the
           Dutch
           made
           no
           scruple
           of
           hiring
           out
           Ships
           ,
           for
           money
           ,
           to
           the
           then
           most
           
             Christian
             King
          
           ,
           to
           promote
           the
           Destruction
           of
           a
           City
           ,
           which
           ,
           according
           to
           the
           apprehensions
           of
           all
           the
           World
           ,
           was
           certainly
           to
           have
           consequent
           thereto
           ,
           that
           of
           our
           
             Reformed
             Religion
          
           ,
           and
           of
           all
           those
           who
           profess'd
           it
           in
           the
           Dominions
           of
           France
           .
           Was
           there
           ever
           seen
           any
           example
           of
           so
           detestable
           an
           impiety
           .
           That
           a
           State
           ,
           which
           makes
           a
           boast
           of
           being
           of
           the
           Reformation
           ,
           should
           have
           made
           no
           Conscience
           ,
           for
           money
           ,
           of
           contributing
           to
           the
           Ruine
           of
           a
           great
           People
           ,
           who
           make
           profession
           of
           the
           same
           Religion
           ;
           and
           that
           at
           the
           very
           time
           ,
           when
           ,
           for
           the
           compleating
           of
           the
           Impiety
           ,
           it
           order'd
           Prayers
           to
           be
           made
           to
           God
           ,
           in
           the
           Churches
           ,
           for
           their
           Preservation
           ?
           This
           puts
           me
           in
           mind
           of
           the
           Emperour
           ,
           Charles
           the
           Fifth
           ,
           who
           caus'd
           publick
           Prayers
           to
           be
           made
           ,
           all
           over
           Spain
           ,
           for
           the
           Liberty
           of
           Pope
           Clement
           the
           Second
           ,
           whom
           he
           himself
           kept
           a
           Prisoner
           at
           Rome
           ,
           in
           the
           Castle
           of
           
             Saint
             Angelo
          
           .
        
         
           But
           there
           are
           yet
           some
           particular
           circumstances
           in
           this
           action
           of
           the
           Dutch
           ,
           which
           do
           very
           much
           aggravate
           the
           horrour
           ,
           and
           perfidiousness
           of
           it
           .
           In
           the
           first
           place
           then
           ,
           before
           the
           doing
           of
           any
           act
           of
           hostility
           against
           those
           of
           Rochell
           ,
           and
           before
           they
           had
           made
           any
           declaration
           of
           being
           enemies
           ,
           they
           endeavour'd
           ,
           by
           Surprize
           ,
           to
           become
           Masters
           of
           the
           Port.
           Though
           what
           I
           say
           seems
           strange
           ,
           and
           at
           some
           distance
           from
           credibility
           ,
           yet
           is
           there
           not
           any
           thing
           in
           the
           world
           more
           true
           .
           An
           illustrious
           person
           amongst
           the
           Dutch
           ,
           and
           the
           Author
           before
           by
           me
           cited
           ,
           when
           I
           gave
           you
           an
           account
           of
           the
           affair
           of
           Amboyna
           ,
           I
           mean
           Aitzema
           ,
           in
           the
           Book
           entituled
           
             The
             Lyon
             Combatant
          
           ,
           pag.
           241.
           sets
           down
           at
           large
           this
           History
           ,
           of
           the
           design
           which
           the
           Dutch
           had
           ,
           to
           surprize
           Rochell
           .
           Take
           here
           in
           express
           terms
           what
           he
           saies
           of
           it
           .
        
         
           On
           the
           fourth
           of
           July
           ,
           in
           the
           Year
           1625.
           
           Hautyn
           ,
           Admirall
           of
           Holland
           ,
           appeared
           before
           Rochell
           ,
           with
           nineteen
           men
           of
           War.
           The
           Inhabitants
           of
           Rochell
           writ
           to
           him
           ,
           as
           did
           also
           the
           Count
           
             Dela
             Val
          
           ,
           to
           let
           him
           know
           ,
           what
           astonishment
           they
           were
           in
           ,
           to
           see
           him
           in
           the
           posture
           of
           an
           enemy
           ,
           as
           being
           not
           able
           to
           imagine
           ,
           that
           either
           the
           States
           ,
           or
           the
           
             Prince
             of
             Orange
          
           ,
           would
           have
           entred
           into
           a
           war
           against
           the
           
             Reformed
             Religion
             .
             Hantyn
          
           told
           those
           who
           had
           
           brought
           him
           the
           Letters
           ,
           that
           he
           could
           not
           return
           them
           any
           answer
           ,
           still
           he
           had
           had
           some
           conference
           with
           those
           of
           the
           King's
           Councel
           .
           The
           next
           day
           he
           sent
           them
           back
           to
           Rochell
           ,
           with
           two
           of
           his
           own
           people
           ,
           and
           told
           them
           ,
           That
           he
           knew
           not
           whether
           they
           were
           come
           by
           the
           order
           of
           all
           the
           Inhabitants
           ,
           or
           of
           some
           part
           of
           them
           only
           ,
           and
           that
           he
           was
           going
           to
           send
           to
           them
           ,
           to
           be
           assur'd
           of
           it
           ;
           and
           that
           in
           case
           they
           continu'd
           in
           their
           subjection
           to
           the
           King
           ,
           they
           were
           not
           to
           fear
           any
           harm
           .
           In
           the
           mean
           time
           ,
           those
           Deputies
           having
           left
           him
           ,
           in
           order
           to
           their
           going
           to
           Rochell
           ,
           he
           came
           up
           ,
           with
           part
           of
           his
           Fleet
           ,
           very
           near
           the
           City
           ,
           which
           gave
           occasion
           to
           two
           men
           of
           Rochell
           ,
           whom
           he
           had
           kept
           aboard
           ,
           to
           tell
           him
           ,
           That
           he
           did
           not
           deal
           fairly
           .
           Monsieur
           
             de
             Soubize
          
           ,
           having
           perceiv'd
           ,
           that
           he
           was
           advanc'd
           with
           a
           good
           number
           of
           Ships
           ,
           made
           him
           stand
           off
           ,
           and
           one
           or
           two
           days
           after
           ,
           he
           absolutely
           defeated
           him
           ,
           burnt
           his
           Vice-Admiral
           ,
           and
           four
           or
           five
           Ships
           ,
           and
           kill'd
           him
           five
           hundred
           men
           ;
           so
           that
           the
           whole
           Fleet
           ,
           being
           in
           great
           disorder
           ,
           got
           away
           as
           far
           as
           Nantes
           .
           And
           this
           was
           the
           unhappy
           success
           ,
           which
           that
           perfidious
           man
           had
           ,
           who
           ,
           under
           pretence
           of
           friendship
           ,
           would
           have
           surpriz'd
           the
           City
           ,
           and
           so
           betray'd
           it
           to
           the
           King.
           
        
         
           After
           Hauntyn
           had
           refitted
           his
           Fleet
           ,
           he
           joyns
           that
           of
           the
           most
           
             Christian
             King
          
           ,
           commanded
           by
           Monsieur
           
             de
             Montmorency
          
           ,
           who
           would
           fight
           that
           of
           the
           Rochellers
           ,
           assoon
           as
           he
           came
           in
           sight
           of
           it
           .
           But
           news
           was
           brought
           him
           ,
           That
           the
           Dutch
           Admiral
           would
           not
           be
           concern'd
           in
           the
           action
           ;
           for
           this
           reason
           ,
           no
           doubt
           ,
           that
           he
           was
           afraid
           to
           be
           beaten
           once
           moro
           .
           Montmorency
           presses
           him
           ,
           and
           conjures
           him
           ,
           not
           to
           desert
           him
           in
           so
           important
           an
           occasion
           .
           He
           alledges
           for
           his
           Excuse
           ,
           as
           we
           find
           in
           
             Gramond
             ,
             Hist
             ,
             Gall.
             pag.
          
           635
           ,
           and
           636.
           
           That
           without
           an
           express
           Command
           from
           the
           States
           ,
           he
           durst
           not
           employ
           their
           Ships
           ,
           to
           give
           a
           decisive
           battel
           to
           the
           Protestants
           of
           France
           ,
           who
           were
           of
           the
           same
           Religion
           with
           his
           Masters
           .
           Mons
           .
           
             de
             Montmorency
          
           ,
           being
           extreamly
           troubled
           ,
           that
           the
           Dutch
           did
           ,
           by
           their
           refusal
           to
           fight
           ,
           defeat
           him
           of
           the
           Fame
           ,
           which
           he
           expected
           infallibly
           to
           acquire
           ,
           by
           the
           Victory
           ,
           was
           forc'd
           ,
           after
           a
           fruitless
           application
           of
           intreaties
           ,
           and
           promises
           ,
           to
           make
           Use
           of
           an
           expedient
           ,
           which
           ever
           prevails
           with
           the
           Dutch.
           He
           ,
           with
           good
           palpable
           money
           ,
           corrputed
           their
           whole
           Fleet
           ,
           and
           engag'd
           the
           Admiral
           ,
           the
           Commanders
           ,
           and
           the
           Soldiers
           ,
           by
           oath
           ,
           to
           fight
           against
           those
           of
           Rochell
           .
           So
           the
           most
           
             Christian
             King's
          
           
           Fleet
           ,
           being
           reinforc'd
           with
           that
           of
           the
           
             Dutch
             ,
             de
             Montmorency
          
           gave
           an
           absolute
           defeat
           ,
           to
           that
           of
           the
           Rochellers
           ,
           commanded
           by
           Mons
           .
           
             de
             Soubixe
          
           :
           So
           that
           the
           Inhabitants
           of
           that
           City
           could
           not
           equip
           another
           ,
           and
           from
           that
           very
           day
           lost
           the
           Soveraignty
           of
           that
           Sea
           ,
           which
           they
           had
           kept
           for
           some
           time
           .
           Whereupon
           ,
           they
           having
           no
           Fleet
           ,
           and
           that
           of
           the
           most
           
             Christian
             King
          
           having
           the
           absolute
           command
           of
           the
           Sea
           ,
           his
           Land-Army
           undertook
           that
           memorable
           work
           of
           the
           Digue
           .
           The
           City
           finding
           it self
           depriv'd
           of
           all
           hopes
           of
           relief
           ,
           surrender'd
           to
           the
           King
           ,
           after
           the
           endurance
           of
           incredible
           inconveniences
           ,
           by
           famine
           ,
           during
           so
           long
           a
           Siege
           .
           If
           the
           Dutch
           had
           sent
           in
           this
           assistance
           to
           his
           most
           
             Christian
             Majesty
          
           ,
           by
           vertue
           of
           any
           Treaties
           of
           Allyance
           ,
           which
           they
           had
           had
           with
           him
           ,
           there
           would
           not
           have
           been
           any
           thing
           to
           quarrel
           at
           in
           the
           said
           Action
           .
           But
           is
           it
           not
           an
           infamous
           thing
           ,
           that
           ,
           after
           they
           had
           plainly
           alledg'd
           their
           not
           being
           empower'd
           to
           fight
           against
           those
           of
           the
           
             Reformed
             Religion
          
           ,
           without
           an
           express
           command
           from
           the
           States
           ,
           they
           should
           nevertheless
           be
           lur'd
           in
           ,
           by
           money
           ,
           to
           do
           a
           thing
           ,
           which
           they
           knew
           to
           be
           contrary
           to
           their
           duty
           ,
           and
           might
           have
           contributed
           to
           the
           ruine
           of
           all
           those
           who
           profess'd
           the
           
             Reformed
             Religion
          
           in
           France
           ,
           if
           the
           most
           
             Christian
             King
          
           had
           had
           any
           such
           design
           ,
           as
           some
           imputed
           to
           him
           ?
           And
           by
           this
           ,
           you
           may
           judge
           of
           the
           Friendship
           which
           the
           Dutch
           have
           for
           those
           of
           the
           
             Reformed
             Religion
          
           ,
           since
           they
           make
           no
           scruple
           ,
           to
           hire
           out
           themselves
           ,
           and
           their
           Ships
           ,
           to
           be
           assistant
           in
           their
           extermination
           .
        
         
           If
           you
           can
           ,
           without
           passion
           ,
           examine
           all
           I
           have
           written
           to
           you
           ,
           concerning
           the
           Dutch
           ,
           I
           am
           confident
           ,
           you
           will
           not
           persist
           any
           longer
           ,
           in
           the
           good
           opinion
           you
           have
           hitherto
           had
           of
           them
           .
           But
           I
           think
           you
           will
           hardly
           be
           induc'd
           to
           lose
           it
           ,
           because
           you
           are
           extremely
           propossess'd
           in
           their
           favour
           .
           Mean
           time
           ,
           since
           I
           look
           upon
           you
           ,
           as
           a
           very
           just
           and
           rational
           Person
           ,
           I
           hope
           you
           will
           not
           think
           it
           much
           ,
           to
           aquaint
           me
           with
           the
           Reasons
           ,
           which
           you
           may
           have
           had
           ,
           for
           your
           not
           being
           mov'd
           with
           those
           which
           you
           have
           reciev'd
           from
           me
           .
           Shew
           me
           ,
           that
           there
           is
           not
           any
           ground
           in
           all
           those
           ,
           by
           which
           I
           have
           pretended
           to
           prove
           ,
           
             That
             the
             Vnited
             Provinces
             are
             not
             of
             the
             Reformed
             Religion
             ,
             according
             to
             the
             Calvinisticall
             way
             of
             Reformation
             .
          
           Make
           it
           appear
           to
           me
           ,
           that
           you
           have
           done
           well
           ,
           in
           endeavouring
           to
           make
           an
           insurrection
           in
           your
           Canton
           ,
           about
           the
           Regiment
           ,
           which
           you
           had
           rais'd
           for
           his
           most
           
             Christian
             Majesty
          
           ,
           
           and
           that
           all
           those
           of
           the
           
             Reformed
             Religion
          
           ought
           to
           unite
           together
           ,
           for
           the
           relief
           of
           the
           Dutch
           ,
           in
           the
           present
           War
           ,
           between
           them
           and
           the
           most
           
             Christian
             King.
          
           If
           you
           can
           prove
           all
           these
           things
           to
           me
           ,
           I
           assure
           you
           ,
           I
           shall
           submit
           to
           your
           Reasons
           .
           And
           I
           shall
           moreover
           give
           my
           thanks
           ,
           for
           your
           deliverance
           of
           me
           ,
           out
           of
           the
           errour
           ,
           in
           which
           I
           have
           hitherto
           continu'd
           ,
           and
           for
           the
           illuminations
           I
           shall
           receive
           from
           your
           documents
           .
           This
           I
           do
           sincerely
           promise
           you
           ,
           as
           also
           ,
           that
           ,
           howe'ere
           it
           may
           happen
           ,
           I
           shall
           ever
           be
           ,
        
         
           
             
               Reverend
               Sir
               ,
               Your
               most
               humble
               ,
            
             &c.
             
          
           
             Vtrecht
             ,
             
               May
               19
               th
               .
               1673.
               
            
          
        
         
           FINIS
           .