Animadversions on a late paper entituled, A letter to a dissenter upon occasion of His Majesties late gracious declaration of indulgence by H.C. Care, Henry, 1646-1688. 1687 Approx. 87 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 21 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2008-09 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A33738 Wing C505 ESTC R224285 13099214 ocm 13099214 97397 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A33738) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 97397) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 410:4) Animadversions on a late paper entituled, A letter to a dissenter upon occasion of His Majesties late gracious declaration of indulgence by H.C. Care, Henry, 1646-1688. 40 p. Printed for John Harris ..., London : 1687. Attributed to Henry Care. Cf. BM. Reproduction of original in Huntington Library. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. 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Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements). Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng Halifax, George Savile, -- Marquis of, 1633-1695. -- Letter to a dissenter. Dissenters, Religious -- England. Great Britain -- History -- James II, 1685-1688. 2006-06 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2006-06 Aptara Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2007-05 Taryn Hakala Sampled and proofread 2007-05 Taryn Hakala Text and markup reviewed and edited 2008-02 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion ANIMADVERSIONS ON A Late PAPER , ENTITULED , A LETTER to a DISSENTER upon occasion of his Majesties late Gracious DECLARATION Of INDULGENCE . By H. C. LONDON , Printed for John Harris , at the Harrow against the Church in the Poultrey , MDCLXXXVII . ANIMADVERSIONS on a late PAPER , entituled , A Letter to a Dissenter , &c. WHAT Severities towards the Persons , what Havock and Devastations on the Goods and Estates of peaceable English Men , have some years past been practised by strained Interpretations , and a rigorous Execution of the several Penal Laws , is sure too late to be forgot by the Sufferers , too notorious to be denied by the Actors . During this Storm the Dissenters of all sorts filled Earth and Heaven with loud and mournful Complaints , both of the Iniquity of those Laws , and the Persecution they thereby suffered ; which was become so intolerable , that many actually transported themselves to forreign Parts ; Multitudes more , out of a sense of their present hard usage , or just apprehension of further Prosecutions , were upon the wing ready to fly at the first opportunity to the remotest Desarts , chusing by a voluntary Banishment from their Native Country to expose themselves to all Hazards abroad , rather than continue under those Evils which they either felt or feared at home . And as Oppression is apt to make even wise Men mad , not a few distracted with these frightful Idea's , suffered themselves to be embarqu'd in Designs no less unwarrantable in their own Nature , than destructive in the Event . In the height of this Consternation , and when no Interest but that of his Majties own Princely Generosity and the Publick - Weal , could necessitate him to it ( the Western Rebellion being crush't and all his Enemies at his feet ) the KING was pleased to publish his healing Declaration for a general Liberty of Conscience , together with the Grounds and Reasons inducing him thereunto ; it being no sudden or occasional Overture to serve a present turn , but the well-weigh'd and long-confirmed Result of his Royal Judgment , which as he had many years ago declared on sundry occasions , so 't is not unknown to whom we owe the Retarding thereof so long , and consequently all the Disasters attending that unhappy Obstruction . By this Gracious Declaration , as his Majesty did freely and fully ease all his Nonconforming Subjects from those Pressures under which they had groaned for so many years , and put them into an equal Capacity with the rest of their Fellow-Subjects , to serve his Majesty and their Countrey , without violating their Consciences , ( a natural Birth-rightPriviledg , which they were before debarr'd of ) so he particularly expressed his Kindness to that Party who call themselves , The Church of England , by his Royal Assurance , that they should without any molestation , fully enjoy all their Possessions , as well as the free Exercise of their Religion . Now who that considers Men as acting like rational Creatures , could have imagined but such a very gracious Procedure , would have obliged all his Majesties Subjects to a most joyful Resentment of so vast a Favour ? Who would not have thought that the Church-men ( who seemed to value themselves upon nothing more than their steady Loyalty , and intire passive Obedience ) should have been extreamly pleased , that their Prince , though himself of a different Communion , was so far from putting them on the Practice of that uneasy Vertue , as on the contrary he vouchsafed so peculiar a regard of them , as to continue them in the Figure of the National Church , and sure Enjoyment of all their former Advantages , except that unaccountable one of forcing all others , ( altho by destructive means , and dangerous to the Publick Repose ) to conform to their particular Schemes , which yet themselves own to be indifferent . At worst , if they could be supposed capable of such an unreasonable Peevishness , as not to be satisfied , because their Nails were pared , and they could not scratch their Neighbours so as heretofore ; yet it could not be doubted but all the Dissenters of whatever Denomination , would with the highest Gratitude receive such an indearing Indulgence ; the rather because His Majesty not only assured them of it for his own Reign , but engaged to do his part for continuing it to their Posterity . But as what is offered with the Right Hand is not seldom received with the Left ; and the best Actions frequently happen to be traduced by the Sinister Interpretations of those that postpone the Publique Tranquillity to their own pettish Humours , little Self-Interests , or perhaps only silly Vanity of appearing more sagacious at the Politicks than their Neighbours . No sooner was this Incomparable Declaration emitted , but some rigid Churchmen vext by a Spirit of Pride to think that their power of domineering should be in the least abbridged ; and gaul'd with Envy to behold Dissenters admitted to any degree of Royal Favour ( which they hop'd to engross wholly to themselves ) studying likewise by some Wheadling Artifice to manage the Dissenters so , as that they should expose themselves to his Majesties just Displeasure , as a sort of savage Animals , that like Tygers can never be rendred tame ; Men that would not be quiet under any Government , but like Trouts must be always swimming against the stream ; People without Conscience , Reason or common Sence ; whom no Kindness could reclaim , no Clemency oblige ( for in such hideous Characters they always represented them ; ) and withal designing that the Rods which themselves had both procured , and so mischievously made use of , might still be reserved in Lavender for a more opportune Juncture , in order to smarter Lashes on all that will not truckle to whatever Ceremonies their Reverencies should think fit to impose . Upon these and such like Motives , I say , a strange sullen Murmur , and grouling Humour has ever since possess'd most of the violent Church-men , to repine at or reproach his Majesties Proceedings , to incense or amuse the People with Fears and Jealousies , and especially to cajole the Dissenters not to regard this Indulgence with that Respect they ought to do , or at least to discourage them from contributing their share towards rendring it perpetual . To reach these Ends , the Malecontents aforesaid have had their Clubs , and Cabals , and little Associations acted by united Councils , not altogether perhaps uninfluenced by foreign Correspondencies ( as 't is said , they had once heretofore on somewhat alike occasion ) with some that have found Liberty of Conscience , too advantagious a Plant to themselves , to suffer it , by their good Wills , to thrive any where else . The high-flown Church-men have endeavoured to affright such honest Country Gentlemen , as they thought Bigotted to their Establishment , with Outcries , that this Indulgence will certainly blow up the Church of England , and then Good-night to the Protestant Religion , and so farewel to all their Abbey-Lands . On the other side the Latitudinarian Divines , as being for their reported Moderation of greatest Credit and Interest among the Non-Cons , have been inveigled by specious Pretensions , to amuse and bug-bear the Dissenters with a noise of the Snake in the Grass ; that the Constitution of England was unhoop'd , all the Laws of Civil Property shaken , by the King 's dispensing with the Penalties of these Irreligious Religious ones ; that this Indulgence was only a Scaffolding erected for the building up of Popery , which would be thrown down as soon as the intended Structure was compleat , &c. These Insinuations were managed at first with Caution , till having ( as they thought ) by private Whispers sufficiently prepossess'd their own Party , and created preparative Jealousies amongst others ; To crown the Work , out comes a Paper , called A Letter to a Dissenter , &c. wherein all that Wit or Malice would rake together , to invenom Mens Minds with false Impressions , is muster'd up , and boldly published to the World. No sooner was the Press delivered in Hugger-mugger of this hopeful Brat , but many grave Dons ( appointed for that Cue ) stood ready to admire and recommend its charming Features : Industriously were the Papers spread , ( and some Crape Gowns appeared so fond of promoting it , as if they had a mind to play the Interlopers on the Hawkers ) printed it was more than once or twice , and at last in a single Sheet for Conveniency of Postage , that no Corner of the Land might be unattempted by this excellent Specimen of the Church of England's Loyalty . As for the Author , since he is so kind to himself , as to play Bo-peep with the Publick , under the Mask of a couple of Letters only , I am not solicitous to enquire after either the Quality or Habitation of a certain uncertain T. W. whom perhaps I am never like to find ; not did I certainly know the Gentleman , should I descend to Personal Reflections , how obnoxious soever he might happen to be to them ; that is a base and sneaking Practice used only by such as thereby confess themselves over-match'd in the Argument . For this Reason too , I shall not qualify the Paper with any harsh Epethites ; whether it fall within the Statute of false News , or without it ; whether it should be called Libellous or Seditious , or somewhat worse , are Questions that belong not at all to my Province . That which I apprehended my Duty ( both as a disinterested honest Man , a good Subject , a hearty Lover of the future Peace of my Country , and a sincere Professor of , and Well-wisher to the Protestant Religion , that it may be established on such a Foot as may for ever preserve it free , both from the danger of being persecuted , and the scandal of persecuting any others ) was to consider the Purport and End of this Writer , atd the Reasons he offers ; and since these , to the best of my Understanding , appear repugnant to all those Obligations , I hope I may be allowed to offer my Conception thereupon without any just Offence ; to antidote the unwary against those mischievous Notions , which I conceive he would instil into their Minds , under the Flourishes of a gaudy Rhetorick . For it must be acknowledged , that this Pamphlet is wrote with a great deal of Art , full of pert Sallies of Wit , and gay Language , plausible Expressions of Kindness , and a Stile altogether accommodated to amuse and inveigle ; but for strict Truth , or solid Arguments , the Author has been pleased to dispense with his Readers Expectations . To premise thus much , I thought not altogether impertinent , that the State of the Case being rightly apprehended , we might have done the sooner , and the Reader , if he please to divest himself for a while of Prejudice and partial Affections , may be the better enabled to judg of what is offered on either side : And so let us come to the matter . Here 's a Letter from Some body to a Dissenter — Very good ! What has the illustrious unknown T. W. to say to his humble dissenting Servant ? Why truly , after an envious Reflection on the late Addresses in general , and a fine-spuninsinuating Banter , he has a pair of Advices to communicate to him : 1. That he must suspect his new Friends . 2. That he must not hazard the Publick Safety , neither by desire of Ease , nor of Revenge . To the first we can give no Categorical Answer till we better understand his meaning , which I shall enqire after by and by : But as for the last , I hope there is no Dissenter in England but was before fully convinced that it was his Duty ; and so the Gentleman might have spared the pains of his elaborate Letter in that respect . But he has also some News to tell him , viz. That the Papists ; always make their first Court-ship to the Church of England ; That they are not in their Hearts so fond of the Dissenters , as to their Principles , but civil to them , in regard their Interests at this Juncture happen to unite in aliquo Tertio , viz. A Repeal of the Penal Laws , under which they have both smarted , and are in danger to do so again ; and that therefore one Reason ( and perhaps with many , the only Reason ) why they are content to allow them Liberty , is because they would thereby get a little for themselves and their Posterity . Having made these wonderful Discoveries , our Author proceeds to open his Budget full of Supposals , mixt with known Falshoods , and thence conjures up a Parcel of horrid Inferences , and upon the whole concludes , that we had as good be down-right Atheists , as consent to part with the Penal Laws ; — And so he is , dear Sir , your most affectionate humble Servant . This is the Sum and Substance of the Pamphlet , when stript of its Top-knots and Gallantry ; and were not vulgar Ears more open to Rhetorick than Logick , there need no more be said to expose its Shallowness and Vanity ; but since the Trifle is become so celebrated , I shall briefly overhaul the Particulars . His first Instruction to Dissenters is , that they have cause to suspect their new Friends ; and have they none to suspect their old Enemies ? The truth is , the Dissenters would gladly be Friends with all their Fellow-subjects , that there might be an Union in Affections , and all the mutual Offices of Justice and Humanity , tho under different Apprehensions about Matters of Religion ; nor can they so much as guess at any Expedient able to accomplish that glorious End , viz. To render both Governours and People easy and safe , by extirpating the otherwise perpetual Feuds and Fears , each Party much needs entertain against the other ( those infernal Winds which so often have raised Storms , and more than once ship-wrack'd Civil States . ) And in a word , to give God and Caesar each his due ; Unless it be by a total Abolishment of those Penal Laws ( that have hitherto obstructed all these Blessings ) and establishing Liberty of Conscience on so firm a Legal Basis , that it shall not be in the Power ( how violent soever the Inclination may be ) of any one Party to invade the Immunities of the rest . But this will not answer our Authors End ; 't is too plainly evident by this affected Term of New Friends , which runs through all his Paper , he principally means the King ; who indeed has been the best Friend the Dissenters ever had on this side Heaven ; and yet some People are so prodigiously ungrateful as to persuade them not to thank Him for 't . But if we must always mistrust new Friendships ; then we must not credit the very late Pretensions on behalf of the Church of England , that she is sorry for her past Rigours , or will be more kind for the future : With what Forehead does this Gentleman urge us to suspect the solemn repeated Promises of our SOVERAIGN and yet at the same time expect we should take his bare Word , who neither gives us his own Name , nor produces any Commission from that Church , for what he undertakes in Hers ? But why must we needs suspect our King ? Is it because amongst the many Royal Qualities he is invested with ; a punctual Veracity , and generous Disdain of all little tricking dissembling Arts , has been signally remarkable ? No it is , because the Church of Rome cannot by her Principles allow Liberty to Hereticks ; and because the Men of Taunton and Tiverton are on a sudden grown eminent for Loyalty ; and because the Quakers give the King Thanks with a boon Grace : — Worthy Reasons ! But let 's examine them apart . As for the first , our Author exaggerates it with his usual Floridness thus , p. 3. This Alliance between Liberty and Infallibility is bringing together the two most contrary things that are in the World. The Church of Rome doth not only dislike the allowing Liberty , but by its Principles it cannot do it . Wine is not more expresly forbidden to the Mahumetans , than giving Hereticks Liberty to the Papists . They are no more able to make good their Vows to you , than Men married before , and their Wife alive , can confirm their Contract with another . The continuance of their Kindness would be a Habit of Sin , of which they are to repent , and their Absolution is to be had upon no other Terms , than their Promise to destroy you : — Thus He. And because 't is a popular Argument frequently made use of , I shall endeavour to give it a full Answer . 1. What the Church of Rome's Principles are , or what by them she can , or cannot do , I shall not here take upon me to determine ; for many of her Principles are very abstruse , even this of Infallibility , she has not been pleased to determine where and in whom particularly it resides ; and she can do great things , as for example ( if I am not * misinformed ) she offered once to allow of our Common-Prayer-Book , and that I hope you 'l say was kindly done of her . Nor do I see any such necessary Contrariety between Infallibility and Liberty ; for though a Man should think himself Infallible , ( if any can in good earnest think so ) it does not follow , that he must beat , spoil or kill all that will not own such his assumed Infallibility ; at least Liberty and Infallibility may agree , as well as we find by woful Experience Conformity hath done with Nonconformity ; and if Dissenters must be persecuted , 't is much alike to them , whether it be by a Fellow-Protestant or a Papist's Hand ; only the former , Act somewhat the more absurdly in Imposing on others , since they confess they may perhaps be in the wrong themselves . 2. But however these things may happen to be , 't is plain the Gentleman does not here argue a Propos ; for we have nothing to do with the Church of Rome , she is no Party to the Transaction : The Dissenters have never that I know of , entred into any Treaty about Reconciliation with her in Principles , whatever others have been nibbling at . Our Concern lies with a Prince , our natural Soveraign , who altho he be of that Communion , has solemnly avowed to all the World , That it has been , and is his constant Sense and Opinion , that Conscience ought not to be constrained , nor People forced in Matters of meer Religion . In pursuance of which Principle , his Majesty has at present restrained the Execution of the Penal Laws and assured the Dissenters that they shall enjoy the same Ease during his Reign ; and that he would be ready to contribute His Part toward rendring the same perpetual , both by repealing those Laws , and confirming the Right of free Exercise of Religious Worship , and securing by Law such a settled and permanent Freedom of Conscience from being invaded by any Party whatsoever for the future . The Question is , whether the Dissenters ought not thankfully to embrace his Majesties most Gracious Offer herein , and not be wanting on their part towards bringing it to effect ? To which I should answer affirmatively , and take it to be their true Interest and only Preservative . For , 3. How far soever the Church of Rome's Pretensions to Infallibility , or her Aversion to those she calls Hereticks may extend , we find in fact , that it does not render all her Members so extravagant as to venture on Impossibilities , and act contrary to their own apparent Interest ; Quia desunt vires is allowed by their hottest Casuists , a sufficient Ground for tolerating Hereticks ; else every one of her Sons should be obliged under Pain of Damnation to run a muck against all Mankind that differ from her ; whereas we see many places , where both Papists and Protestants live very quietly together , and that there have been and are Princes of the Roman Creed that have and do tolerate different Religions , without esteeming themselves ever the worse Catholicks ; nor does the Pope venture to excommunicate them on that account . I doubt not but those of the Protestant Cantons in Switzerland believe as much as any of our Dissenters that there is Idolatry in the Church of Rome ; and there is no Question but those of the Popish Cantons believe the other to be rank Hereticks , yet they both in a friendly manner coalesce into one and the same Republick , and live quietly together for their mutual Preservation ; neither the miscall'd Heretick thinking himself bound to invade the Civil Rights of the supposed Idolater ; nor the imagined Idolater once dreaming that he can never go to Heaven , without a Promise to destroy his Neighbour , because he fancies him to be an Heretick . Nor do the Roman Catholicks of the Vnited Provinces ( whose Numbers are not inconsiderable ) esteem themselves bound to cut their Compatriots Throats , but on the contrary have as vigorously as any drawn their Swords ( even though against the most Catholick King ) in defence of their common Liberties . By all these and many other like instances that might be given , it appears that Roman-Catholicks , notwithstanding their Principles , can sometimes live very sociably with Protestants , where their common Safety and Interest requires it ; And that this is their case in England , shall presently be shewn . But in the mean time , this may serve in some measure to answer and take off that vulgar reproach now commonly thrown at Dissenters , that they joyn with Papists to set up Popery , by destroying the Church of England ; Of which Charge neither Branch is true ; they joyn not with Papists to set up , but rather to keep down Popery , and not to destroy the Ch. of England , but rather to establish it upon firm and lasting Grounds ; To give every Party their Right in an uninterrupted Freedom of Conscience , and prevent any of them from using Violence to the other . To joyn with People of another Persuasion in a certain respect where our several Interests happen to unite , may be done without the just scandal of favouring their Opinions , so when the Pope expostulated with Cardinal d' Ossat Ambassador from King Henry the 4th of France , that his Master had entred into an Alliance with the Dutch , who were Hereticks , to the danger of the Church ; that most prudent Minister of State replied , That his Holiness need not wonder how in Reason of State those of different Religions might joyn together for Political Ends , without hazard of altering Religion ; thus David sought Protection of the Philistines , and Abraham redeemed the sinful Sodomites ; That he took it to be upon the same Ground , that his Holiness himself not long before received a Persian Ambassador , who was so far worse than an Heretick , that he never pretended to the Name of a Christian . — With which Reason the Pope was pleased to acquiesce . Whatever Principles bigotted People may have advanc'd , wise Princes have , and always will endeavour to act according to Reasons of State and their true Interest . The Poets tell us , that the Gods esteemed themselves obliged by no Oath , but when they swore by Stix : The judicious Bacon mythologizes it thus , that though some Princes scorn to be Slaves to their Words , yet when their Interest runs parallel with their Promises , you may rely upon their Performance . To remove our Suspicions in this case , we have not only the greatest verbal Assurances that can be given from the most steady and generous of Princes , but also the concurrence of his Interest , together with that of all those of his Communion . It is His Interest , as to begin , so to continue Liberty of Conscience ; as it allays Animosities , secures his own Peace , encreases People , augments Trade , advances his Royal Revenue . And to settle it upon an impregnable Foot , seems the greatest Kindness he can do those of his own Persuasion ; to give them any Encouragement to hope further , will certainly embroil his Affairs , and in the End may probably occasion some great Disaster on that Party ; They being at most not much above one in sixty , nay perhaps not one in a hundred , ( for I conceive our Author may too much under-calculate , when he makes them but one in two hundred ) in number compared with the rest of his Subjects ; the Force of which over-Proportion is also much augmented by their inbred Aversion to Popery , than which nothing can be more visible throughout the Nation ; whereunto add that the next Heirs in prospect are both Protestants , and bestowed in Protestant Alliances , which must needs unravel all the Web , and perhaps before it may be compleatly woven . So that if any of the warmer Religious Orders should think of pushing on any present Advantages , so far as to make theirs the National Religion ; as they are most unlikely to succeed in such a rash Attempt , so the Nobility and Gentry of their Party , and all that have Estates ( who must ride out any contingent Storm and stand at mark , whilst others may retreat to safe Covert abroad ) cannot be so dull as not to foresee that whether they fail or prosper at present , they must certainly expect to pay for it severely hereafter , and they cannot tell how soon , therefore will undoubtedly be cautious of countenancing any such precipitate Measures ; but rather being content with the Liberty of their own Consciences and Enjoyment of their Natural Priviledges in common with their Fellow-subjects will adjoyn their Endeavours towards transmitting that Ease and Happiness to their Posterity , upon so comprehensive a Foundation , that it shall be the General Interest of the Nation to perpetuate it . It may therefore upon the whole matter , be most reasonably , as it ought most dutifully be believ'd , That his Majesty's reiterated Promises deserve our entire Confidence ; That a Prince so Wise and Generous will not expose both his own Ease and Grandeur , the Repose of his Realms , the Honour of his Name , nay the Honour of his Religion , together with the future Safety of all that profess it in these Realms , to such inevitable hazards ; But rather that he intends ( as he has frankly declared ) no more than to make his Reign easy to Himself , and All his People , To leave those of his own Perswasion ( as well as others ) in a Condition less Burdensom than for some Reigns past ; And by these sweet and gentle Methods at once secure the future Tranquillity of his Kingdoms , and raise a perpetual Monument of his own Wisdom and Clemency , whereunto His great Experience as well as natural Goodness do dispose Him ; The past Example of a mighty Monarchy reduced to a great Declension chiefly by the Maxims of an over-zealous Fierceness ; Or that more Modern and Terrible One of Another ( the Consequences of which may perhaps be foreseen without Consulting Astrology ) are no very inviting Precedents for a prudent Prince to follow ; especially when the Difficulties here are so much more insuperable than they were in either of them . But after all this very Question , whether we shall trust or suspect , is in Truth impertinent , and has no room in our present Case . His Majesty , though he well deserves , is yet so gracious as not to require our Confidence gratis , he offers a legal Establishment of our common Religious Freedom ; you shall have at the same instant as good Security as can be devised , provided Terms be not insisted on , that are naturally repugnant to that Liberty intended to be Confirmed ; For if it be not General , it cannot be Effectual ; But by a General Security equally including All Parties , the Fears and Jealousies of Each must vanish , and their several Interests Concentre to continue Inviolable : For whatever may be the Desires and Inclinations of Roman Catholicks , 't is certainly their Interest to secure themselves with the Multitude ; And if it prove a Security to Them , 't is so to others : If not to others , it will likewise fail them when they may need it ; Therefore they are as much concern'd as any , to make a sound Provision . That which defends the Whole , preserves every Part ; But a Partial Security is imperfect and dangerous . As to the Particulars , or Modalities of such Security , 't is the Work of the Great Council of the Kingdom : And as it would be a sawcy Vanity for a private Person to prescribe , so it can be no less Presumption in any to say , That the Wisdom of the Nation can find no Expedients instead of the Tests , which without being ( like them ) appropriated to the Interest of a single Party , or invading Mens Civil Rights or Priviledges for Matters of Conscience ( as they do ) may yet no less , nay more effectually prevent all Apprehensions of any one Parties over-running the rest . If Laws be no Security , then the Controverted Laws and Tests are none : If they be , then why may not another Legal Provision , better , because more comprehensive , and founded on more equal and reasonable Principles , secure us All as well as Those ? These Reasonings to my mean Apprension , seem not inconsiderable ; but the whole is with all deference submitted to the consummated Prudence of his Majesty and his two Houses of Parliament , when he shall think fit to convene them . The Letter-Writer's next Suggestion why we ought to distrust , is , because sudden Changes are not natural , and how miraculous a thing it is , That the Men of Taunton and Tiverton should now be above all other eminent for Loyalty . — Good Sir ! Either cease , or encrease your Astonishment ; there are other strange violent Metamorphoses abroad , altogether as surprising ; the old Declaimers against Fears and Jealousies become the busiest Promoters of them ; the former Magnifiers of Prerogative swagger for Magna Charta ; they that have an hundred times avowed , that they had rather be Papists than Presbyterians ; they that have spent their best Breath for more than twenty years in Invectives against Dissenters , and promoted the most violent Prosecutions against them , as often as the Government did not restrain them , are now ( if your News pag. 10. be true ) overflowing with the spirit of Peace , Charity and Condescension . And all their former Haughtiness is for ever extinguished . This is certainly a sudden unexpected Change , and therefore we are inclinable to take your Advice pag. 3. and pause a while before we believe it ; for since we are satisfied our Features are not altered , we are apt to conclude , neither is your Opinion of us , whatever may be pretended . We forget not the Affairs of Taunton and Tiverton , and could say there were more than Dissenters concern'd ; but suppose them such , were it not the Severities which they had already suffered from the Church of England , and those more astonishing ones , they were made believe they must unavoidably encount●r under a Roman-Catholick Prince ( the very thing continued to be insinuated in this Paper ) that plung'd and hurried them into that desperate Defection ? And when by his Majesties Gracious Declaration they were secur'd from those dismal Apprehensions , could less be expected than that returning to their Duties , they should express themselves eminent for Loyalty ? Is it any wonder that the Cause ceasing , the Effect should also cease ? Or can we think that Gospel-saying a Paradox , That those to whom much has been forgiven , should love much ? Let us not flatter our selves , or calumniate others ; Rebellion and Loyalty ( as one has well observ'd ) subsist not so much in Parties as Persons ; Good , that is , true Christian Principles , are excellent Qualifications to advance the Peace of Civil Government : but since the Majority of those that profess them , rarely walk up to those self-denying Rules ; if we turn over Histories , and survey the Transactions of the World , 't will appear that the Interest of Societies is that which generally secures their Obedience . That Government which protects most , and leaves fewest uneasy , being likely to be freest from Discontents , and consequently from Disturbance ; for when all is done , the Magistrate that protects and ch●rishes any sort of People in his Dominions , may justly require their Service , and safely rely upon their Obedience ; But if he persecute them , whether Papists , Church of England-Protestants , or Dissenters , though perhaps he may violently force many of them to an outward Compliance , yet he can never prudently rest upon their Affections . As for the Quakers ( on whom our facetious Author is pleased to exercise his merry Vein ) if any have been so censorious as to declare them not to be Christians , yet they themselves profess the contrary , and have patiently undergone Sufferings equal at least with any other Party , to make good their Claim to that Title , however they are Men , and on that score , leading peaceable inoffensive Lives , ought to be free from Persecutions , or being compelled by outward Force to a Religion that can only be propagated and entertain'd by Love ; And also , if they deserve it , may be made use of , and preferred in Civil Matters as well as others ; since we , and I think most other Nations of the Christian Name refuse not to suffer Jews to live quietly amongst us , notwithstanding they are open Denyers of our ever blessed Saviour . Hitherto we find this Author's Arguments of no force to persuade us to abandon our Interest and Duty , which are both inseparably wound up in our lawful endeavours to get the Penal Laws repeal'd . — But if he cannot delude us with Sophistry , he will affright us with Mormo's and Hobgoblins ; Give him leave but to suppose for you , & then if you do not runout of your Wits , he pronounces your Courage too dangerous a virtue to be commended . But as he offers no proofs for his Supposals , so they are founded neither on Truth nor Probability . He imagines some criminal Alliance between the Roman Catholicks and Dissenters , when there is nothing more than a joint Concurrence ( prompted by their Common Interest , and justified by the first Principles of Religion , Reason , and Policy ) to remove unwarrantable and oppressive Shackles upon Conscience , and withal at the same time advance such a Legal Establishment as may secure , not only themselves , but all others too , in their Rights , both as Men and Christians . And what need was there of any Mediators armed with Power of giving Encouragements and Rewards to induce Men to such an innocent undertaking , no less advantagious to all others ( nay more to the Church-men ) than themselves ? As Part of this Alliance or an Effect thereof , 't is plain , he reckons the Dissenters returning of Thanks to his Majesty for his Declaration of Indulgence , and then at once to cast an insolent Reflection on his Majesty , or his Ministers of State , and to expose the dissenting Ministers as Mercinaries , such as act not upon Principles of Conscience or Honour , but may easily be drawn by a little Money to any lewd Compliance , although to the Ruin of the Protestant Religion , and Subversion of all our Municipal Laws , and the very Constitution of our English Government , ( for elsewhere he brands Addressing with no less mischievous Tendencies , see pag. 9. & 10. ) He proceeds to advance two most scandalous Charges . The first , pag. 5. by way of Suggestion , as if some ( formerly implied in a like Negotiation ) had now by Authority , sprinkled Mony among the Dissenting Ministers . The other , pag. 7. in a positive Affirmation , That the first Draughts of the Addresses ( he speaks generally , that fly abroad every week , and with an Air of Scorn and Malice , — murther us with another to the same ) are made by the Priests [ which cannot otherwise be meant than of Roman Priests ] and that the Dissenters Part is only to write them out fairer . — [ His Kindness it seems will allow them to be the better Scribes , tho such Dunces as not able to express their own Thoughts so well as certain invisible Fathers who know nothing of them . ] Now if both these , be ( as I dare , with all assurance , averr , they are ) utterly false , then I hope the World will partly understand the Temper of the Writer , and Design of his Paper , and entertain both with that Abhorrence , due to one that regards neither Respect to his Prince , nor Justice towards his Neighbours , nor any Measures either of Charity or Truth or common Honesty ; so he may but reach his ends , of dividing the Dissenters amongst themselves , and exposing them all to the Contempt and Hatred of others ; fomenting Misapprehensions and Jealousies , thereby to frame an Engine both for their Ruin , and for continuing the exorbitant Power of that Party for whom he is an Advocate . But how do we demonstrate that there is no Truth in the Particulars he hints at ? I confess it is impossible apodictically to prove such an universal Negative ; but if offering as much towards it as the nature of the thing will bear , may be sufficient , I doubt not but to satisfy all the impartial World. 1. The manner of our Author 's talking , argues a Consciousness of Guilt , and has all the natural Features of a Libel ; nothing asserted , but blind Hints , and Innuendo's thrown out ; Baits fair enough to catch Gudgeons , and make them swallow the Calumny ; but yet so cautiously worded , as to secure a Retreat when taxed with down-right Slander . His Hypothesis he thought , might amuse , but where is his Assumption that should prove ? If those Men that formerly sprinkled Mony amongst the Dissenting Ministers , should ( says he ) by the SAME AVTHORITY now do the like , and disburse where they cannot otherwise persuade . — He ought to have added ; — But those very Men have now done the same , — which being proved , and not till then , he might have inferred ( as he does ) that is seems rather an Evidence than a Presumption of the Deceit ; Whereas now , his Discourse is a Rope of incoherent Sand , and may thus , and much better be retorted , — If this Author have only dreamed , or invidiously forged this Supposal , as is highly probable , because he produces no Testimony for it , ( which in Reason it must be thought he would have done , could he have procured any ) then 't is rather an Evidence than Presumption of Deceit , and something else which I am not willing to express by its proper Name . 2. This Insinuation about sprinkling of Mony consists of two parts : 1. That such a thing was once , and by Authority too , done formerly , to the Dissenting Ministers . 2. The like again now by the very same Men. — Here we are left altogether in the dark when , or how long ago this formerly was ; but it seems 't was within Memory , because by the same Negotiators . Now I do well remember , that Dr. Owen in the Preface to a Book , Intituled , An Enquiry &c. partly in Answer to the Reverend Dr. Stillingfleet's Discourse of the Unreasonableness of Separation , printed Anno 1681 , takes notice of a Report then advanced , That the Nonconformists some of them at least , do receive , or have received Money from the Papists to act their Affairs , and promote their Interest . And then he tells the World , That 't is such a malicious frontless Lye as Impudence it self would blush at , That those by whom it was first whispered probably understood better than the Nonconformists what Influence Money , or the things which they knew how to turn into it , had into their Profession and Actings in Religion ; Whereunto he adds ( I had almost said prophetically ) these Words , ☞ It seems to me that some such Men are afraid , lest the present Opposition unto Popery should issue in such an Establishment of the Protestant Religion , as that hereafter it should not be in the disposal of any , nor in their Power to make a Bargain of it , either for their Advantage , or in their Necessity . And a little after , speaking of Dissenters , He says , However they may be Traduced or Accused , they will continue in giving the highest Security that Conscience , Profession , Principles , Interest and Actions can give of their Stability in the same [ Protestant ] Cause ; only the desire to be excused , if they make not use of this notable Engine for opposing of Popery , namely , the stirring up of Jealousies , Fears and Animosities amongst Protestants , which others judge serviceable to that End. And in the next Page , Because I know my self herein peculiarly reflected on , I do avow , That never any one Person in Authority , Dignity , or Power in the Nation , Nor any one that had any Relation unto Publick Affairs , nor any from them , Papist or Protestant , did once speak one Word to me , or advise with me , about any Indulgence or Toleration to be granted unto Papists ; I challenge all the World who are otherwise minded , to intermit their Service for a season unto the great false Accuser , and prove the contrary if they can ; The Persons are sufficiently known of whom they may make their Enquiry . Thus that Learned Worthy Man. — And can any Body that knew him , judg that he would either in Piety or Prudence print at such a rate ( in a time when enow would have been ready to detect it ) , if what he so amply and earnestly denies , had in it any Colour of Truth ? Yet since he remarks , it was at that time become a publick Slander , 't is highly probable this was what our Author would hint at , in the first Branch of his Supposition , if at least he thereby meant any thing , or had so much as any old baffled Story whereon to ground the Figment ; For , perhaps , we shall wrong the Gentlemans Invention , not to ascribe it altogether to his own teeming Imagination . 3. Non Entis nullae sunt Affectiones , If there were no such pecuniary sprinklings heretofore , then none now , according to the Letter-writers own Account , for he supposes the latter to be done by the same Instruments , and in the same Methods ; And so all his Tattle about Ministers who having fallen under such Temptations , are engaged to continue their Frailty , by the Awe they are in , lest it should be exposed , &c. becomes insignificant . 4. If there were any such Artifices of Bribing Ministers , or of having Addresses penn'd by Jesuits , or other Popish Priests , sent to Dissenters whose part was only to Copy , Sign , and Present them , it is most reasonable to believe , That such Intrigues must be practised upon those that most early Addressed , to the end others might be invited to follow . But so far is this from any Resemblance of Truth , That the first Addressers in this kind , were so scrupulous as not to impart their Intentions to any but those of their own Communion , till the Form was adjusted and agreed upon amongst themselves . And for the full Detection of any such Practices as are insinuated , I have Commission from Persons sufficiently able to answer such an Engagement , to Advertise and Assure all the World , That if any Person or Persons can make appear either , That there was any Money or Moneys worth whatsoever , directly or indirectly , Given , Promised , or Propounded to any of the Persons that did first Address , viz. That of the Baptists , That of the Presbyterians , or that of the Congregational Persuasion of London , to dispose them , or any of them , to make such Address ; Or that there was any Draught or Copy of any of the said Addresses , or any part thereof ( drawn by any Person or Persons , other than some of those that subscribed the same respectively ) ever sent , shewn , or proposed to any of the Subscribers , That then the Person or Persons making such Discovery , shall , upon his or their Application to the Bookseller , whose Name and Habitation is hereunto prefix'd , receive Directions where and of whom , He or They , and every of them making such Discovery , may and shall ( besides most hearty thanks ) have , and be honestly and Bonâ Fide paid a Reward of Fifty Pounds of Lawful Money of England . The rest of his Supposals are of the same Leaven both for Truth and Charity . Who are those Dissenters , and on what part of the Globe do they dwell , ( For sure they must be Antipodes to Ours ) that preach up Anger and Vengeance against the Church of England ? That are under a Contract which obliges them upon a Forfeiture to make use of Inflaming Eloquence ? That apprehend their Wages would be retrench'd , if they should be moderate ? — Quite contrary , they have , with a most Christian Moderation , so far overcome the Resentments of their past hard Usage , or present Provocations , that they treat that Church with all Friendliness and Respect ; But think they mean her no Harm when they wish those dangerous Weapons out of her hands , which she has so long indiscreetly made use of , only to ruine other innocent People , and stab her own Reputation . Does this Sir Politick T. W. or W. T. ( for some Criticks think that the truer Reading ) imagine Liberty of Conscience , or Freedom to worship our Creator in such manner as we are convinc'd to be most agreeable to his Will , without being jailed or undone for the same ; and without being scarr'd by sever Temporal Penalties to joyn externally and Hypocritically in a Religious Worship , which our Consciences tell us is sinful ; does he , I say , conceit this noble Priviledg , so cheap and vile a thing that none will appear for it but such as are either suborned with Money , or have deserved to be hang'd ? Is it not a pretty Notion , and much becoming a Statesman , that those who chiefly to assert Liberty of Conscience ( though in a very bad and irregular way ) incurr'd the Want of a Pardon , must after such Pardon obtained , needs act against their Consciences , if they offer to perswade any to endeavour the settling such Liberty regularly in a Legal Course ? Nor is his next politick Squint less impertinent , as if one Prince might not for Reasons of State continue Friendship with another , whose Conduct in some Particulars he highly disapproves ; nor know I how , in that case , he can more effectually declare such dislike , than by steering a direct contrary Course himself . His Noise of solliciting Addresses , the Tyring Post-Horses with Circular Letters , and threatning , where Perswasions would not serve to procure them , is all but the Product of a very bold Imagination ; And he has been sufficiently challenged to give but one single Instance . Sure the Gentleman is Master of no great Stock of Gratitude at home , that he can think the whole Nation so wondrous barren of it , on one of the most glorious Occasions that ever were given for that good-natured Vertue to display it self . Rather than fa●● of advancing Jealousies , he seems willing to contradict himself , as well as Truth ; and both complains of the Dissenters for their Forwardness , and yet would have the World believe they were very backward in Addressing — But still , wherein I pray , lies the harm of the thing it self , that either there should need such Variety of Artifices to draw in the unwilling ; Or that can render them criminal that did with all ready Zeal make those grateful Acknowledgments ? This he undertakes to tell us , pag. 8. & 9. ( for I follow the first Edition ) and the Sum of his Discourse amounts to neither more nor less than this . That the King's Declaration for Liberty of Conscience was an IRREGVLAR ACT [ Very dutifully spoken ! ] therefore the Dissenters ought not to have taken any notice of it , but to have forborn the Publick Exercise of their Religion , till a Parliament had allowed it [ which if he and his Associates can help it , shall never be ] But since they did not only receive the Benefit granted , but publickly return his Majesty Thanks for it , they thereby give a Blow to all the Laws by which their Religion and Liberty are to be protected , and fall foul upon Magna Charta [ Which Chapter of it I beseech you Sir ? ] gave up their Right in the Laws ; for after giving Thanks for the Breach of one Law , they lose the Right of complaining of the Breach of all the rest . This is sed News ! but as good Luck would have it , there is not one Article of it true ; for the Kings's Declaration was in it self , not only a very pious , prudent and gracious , but ( according to the antient Constitution of this Realm ) a most Legal Act. The Dissenters had been the most inexcusably peevish People in the World , if they had not accepted of it , the most ungrateful if they had not thankfully acknowledged it , and will be the most stupid Neglecters of their own Interest , both Religious and Civil , if they do not exret all their Endeavours towards having it established for Posterity by a Law. Upon this occasion it may be expected , that I should enter into a long Discourse in Affirmance of his Majesties Right to dispense with Coercive Laws in Matters of Religion : But since that is already done by a far better Hand in a Just Treatise ( which may possibly er'e long see the Light ) I shall not actum agere , or inlay my Copper with that Noble Author's Gold ; but content my self to say in general , 1. That as it was the Right of our English Kings by the Common Law , so it has been confirmed to themby several Statutes and they have accordingly exerted it time out of mind ; and particularly 't is reserved to the Crown by the Statute of 22 Car. 2 cap. 1. for preventing and suppressing seditious Conventicles , in these Words , — ; Provided , That neither this Act , nor any thing therein contained , shall extend to invalidate or avoid his Majesties Supremacy in Ecclesiastical Affairs ; But that his Majesty and his Heirs and Successors may from time to time , and at all times hereafter , exercise and enjoy all Powers and Authority in Ecclesiastical Affairs as fully and as amply as himself , or any of his Predecessors have , or might have done the same ; Any thing in this Act notwithstanding . 2. As to what is alledged touching all other Laws , being by this Precedent shaken ; and that such as give Thanks for the Breach of One Law , preclude themselves from complaining of the Breach of all the rest ; because on the like Ground the King may Repeal any other Statutes without Common Consent in Parliament . — It may readily be answered ( besides what has been already pointed at in the foregoing graph ) That there is a great difference between Repealing a Law , and relaxing or dispensing with the Penalty ; The first can only be done in Parliament , the latter has been always adjudged to be Part of the Royal Prerogative . For example , the Law dooms every Person convicted of Burghlary or picking a Pocket , to die : Our Kings have frequently in all times remitted the Execution : Was this ever thought to be a Repeal of those Laws ? or any Infringment of all the rest ? And if it be so in Civil Cases , wherein the Subject is concerned in the Injury , and where the Matter to be restrained by the Laws , is not only Malum prohibitum , but Malum in se , not meerly evil , because forbidden , but forbidden because intrinsecally evil ; Then ( a fortiori ) much more strongly it follows , that his Majesty may suspend the Execution of the Penalties , which by these Laws relating to Ecclesiastical Affairs , are inflicted on Actions or Defaults so far from being in themselves Criminal , That a very great part of them are undoubtedly allow'd by the Laws of God , Nature , and Reason . And so much the rather may his Majesty exert this Right , since these Penal Statutes generally in their Preambles ( which are Claves Legum , the Keys that open to us the Occasion , and consequently the main Scope and End of Enacting them ) affirm that they were made for the Security of the Princes Person , and to prevent Treason , Insurrections and Sedition ; so that his Majesty is principally and immediately concern'd therein ; and since He must be allowed the best Judg of his own Security , if he shall find that there is no need of putting such Statutes in Execution to that End ; but rather that the Non-Execution thereof will more conduce to his Safety , and the publick Repose ; and therefore thinks fit to supersede or forbear the exacting the Penalties , Where is the Wrong ? To whom the Injury ? So that hitherto neither was the King's Declaration an Irregular Act , nor the Dissenters thanking him for it any such desperate Business as to make them forfeit their Right in all other Laws of their Country ; but most true it is that whilst these Church-driving Laws stand in Force , if the Execution of them happen into some Hands , we know by Experience that there are a thousand very small Matters , of which any one , by the dexterous Management of the Gentlemen of Doctors Commons , is enough not only to strip any Man of his Interest in the Laws , but send his Body to the Gaol , and ( in their aprehension ) his Soul to the Devil to boot . And who can but Blush to hear some People upbraid the Romanists with that Tenet , That Faith is not to be kept with Hereticks ( which yet they , with the highest Asseverations , disclaim ) whilst at the same time , Themselves would have so many Laws kept on Foot , that give opportunity to every Villain to cheat any honest Man , by taking Advantage of his Conscientious Dissent in Matters of Religion , from the Establish'd Mode ; Witness the pleading of Excommunication in Bar of a just Action ; And the Disablement o● so many to maintain any Suit at Law , or in Equity , unless they first both receive the Sacrament according to the Usage of the Church of England , and take the Tests . But — Parcius ista viris — The Gentleman owns , That the Church of England preserving too long the bitter ▪ Taste of that Vsage They had received in the times of our former Confusions , sacrific'd their Interest to their Revenge . [ A great Truth , I had almost said , the only one in his Paper . ] But now ( quoth he ) they are sensible of their Mistake , all their former Haughtiness is for ever extinguish'd ; Therefore you may securely trust them , That in the next Parliament [ If you Dissenters will be Quiet and suffer them to carry Elections as they please ] They will do you Reason ; Ay , and you shall have Liberty , and the Papists never a Bit. Is there any Body that deserves not to wear a Muckender , but must needs see through all this ? What better Hopes can Dissenters conceive of another Parliament of Bigotted Church-Men than of the Last ? who were generally stanch that way . To go about to wheadle us with Promises of Liberty to Protestants , but exclusive of Romanists , is , at this time of day , such a palpable Banter as only shews the contemptible Opinion they have of the Dissenters Intellectuals . Can it be imagined , That the King can ever pass it ? Would it not be extravagant Rudeness to offer it ? Nay , have not They themselves already by their Proxies made Overtures to the direct contrary ? To pretend now , That They were only the Instruments , not the Authors of the late Violences towards Dissenters , as it exposes their Prudence and Honesty in the Fact , so it manifests their Insincerity in the Excuse ; did they not by Concert throughout the Nation both in Pulpits , Prints , and Practices , instigate and warrantize those Outrages ? Have we not seen them in Person animating Informers , and with their own hands in some places pulling down Meeting-Houses . Nay so high had the inveterate Venom swell'd , that even distressed Foreign Protestants felt part of its Fury ; For by some of their good Wills none of the poor Ruinated Hugenots , should have had any share of that Noble Charity which Royal Mercy had allow'd to be Collected , and true English Bounty plentifully Contributed for their Relief ; But they must notwithstanding starve , unless they would first conform to certain Rituals , which either they did not understand , or else could not be supposed ( according to their Education ) able in Conscience to comply with , and so in flying one Rape upon their Souls , were dangerously exposed to another . Yet notwithstanding all these too common and unwarrantable Transports , it must be acknowledged , there were divers of the Establish'd Clergy who kept themselves free from that Epidemical Infection of the persecuting Spirit , who did Christianly interpose , and venture far in their Endeavours to stem the impetuous Torrent : The Author of the several Conformists Pleas for the Nonconformists ; The Reverend Protestant Reconciler ; honest Mr. B — lds , and probably more than I have met with , did publickly appear in Print ; And others in their Sermons and Practices declared their more healing and pacifick Principles . May their Names be never mentioned without Respect and Honour ! May they never stand in need of that Compassion which they so bravely vouchsafed to others under Persecution ! May their Memories be had in perpetual Renown ; and especially let their Moderation for ever be imitated ! But as to the Generality of those that pride themselves with the Title of Churchmen , it cannot be denied , That as they reproach'd such their moderate Brethren with the odious Nick-Name of Trimmers , so themselves went on Jehu's Pace , nothing but a strict and severe Execution of all the most rigorous Laws would content them ; They daily both irritated Magistrates and the Skum of the People to the Holy Work ; At Guild-Hall-Chappel we have heard such enflaming Rhetorick as this ( speaking of the Dissenters ) Let them not call it Persecution , 't is a just and necessary Prosecution , and the most they can suffer , is the least they deserve . In pursuance of such Pulpit-Maxims , Laws , tho too harsh in themselves , were wyre-drawn abundantly further than the apparent Intent of the Makers . Common Justice denied to any that appeared under the Character of Dissenters ; palpable Perjuries wink 't at ; Riots made not only of the most peaceable Assemblies to worship God , but of the Friendly Visits of Relations ; Nay where the small Number found , were not sufficient to colour a Legal Prosecution on that pretence , a Servant attending one that came to surprize them , has been clapt in for a Party in the Indictment , and an Outragious Fine thereupon enforced to be paid ; As in the Case of a worthy Citizen near London-Bridg ; How Juries Brow-beaten , and forc'd to present Men on the 23 Eliz. contrary to their Consciences ; Some troubled on a double Conviction before two several Magistrates for one and the same Offence ; The Fines frequently Extravagant , as one Man at a Sessions in Surrey was compell'd to pay down 100 pound , for being at one Meeting . In brief , no Wood came amiss to make Arrows of , for the Destruction of the Dissenters ; Delenda erat Carthago , all Nonconformists were to be ruined in all places , after the Example of Bristol , &c. At this pass matters stood when His Majesty vouchsaf'd to hold forth his Golden Scepter , and put a Stop to all these Outrages and Calamities : And what Security does this unknown Author give us , that it may not be so again one day , if these Penal Laws be not utterly removed ? How does it appear that the Sentiments of the Church of England towards Dissenters are chang'd , unless it be to a greater degree of Malice ? Or that their Haughtiness is for ever extinct , but rather encreased ? For Example , but ten miles up the Thames , a good while since the Declaration , a Parson refus'd to Bury a Child , because Baptized by a Nonconformist-Minister , so that all the Company assembled for the Funeral were forc'd to depart , and the Infant 's Corps to be kept above Ground all Night ; And hardly would he be induced by any Entreaties to permit its Interment the next day , and then too without vouchsafing his Reverencies Presence . I would not file particular Mens Failures to the Reproach of a Community amongst whom are so many Learned worthy Men ; But this I cannot forbear to say , That if the Church of England would be credited , she ought publickly declare against the Persecuting Spirit , and make her Repentance as notorious as the Scandal : Whereas her contesting so stifly for the Continuance of the Penal Laws , argues too broadly that she still retains the very same Inclinations . And indeed this mighty Stir and Outery of keeping up the Tests , or else we are all undone , is no more than that of old , Great is Diana of the Ephesians ! For by these Laws and Tests the Church-men ( though but one Part , and that not the greatest , of the Nation ) have not only engrossed and secured to themselves all the Preferments and Offices , all Places of Profit , Honour , and Trust throughout the Kingdom ; but also an opportunity of Ruinating all , or any of the other Parties at pleasure . These are too sweet Morsels to be disgorg'd without some Reluctancy ; And they may be excus'd in Policy , if they use all Efforts to continue their Enjoyment , or Hopes at least , of such absolute Advantages ; But in the mean time the Dissenters will be unpardonably remiss , if they hearken to the Voice of these Charmers , and neglect such an opportunity of Enfranchizing Themselves and Posterity . Nor can I imagine what our Author means by that Hectoring Rhodomantado , pag. 12. How his Church can in a moment bring Clouds again , and turn the Royal Thunder upon the Dissenters heads , Blow them off the Stage in a Breath , if She would give but a Smile , or a kind word : That the least Glimpse of her Compliance would throw them back into a state of Suffering , and draw upon them all the Arrears of Severity which have accrued during this time of Kindness to them : — But She will not allow her self to be rescued [ From what ? ] by such unjustifiable means , but chuseth to bear the Weight of Power , rather than lie under the Burthen of being Criminal . And to the same purpose he talks elsewhere , That his Church had the first Court-ships , which she rejected , and is ready to suffer , rather than receive all Advantages that can be gain'd by a Criminal Compliance . — Now besides the most insolent Aspersion hereby thrown on his Majesty ( as if he were rather her Servant than her Soveraign ) that she can so easily induce him to violate his solemn Promises for her Pleasure ; I would gladly learn what this expected and so much courted Smile might be , that can perform such Miracles ? What it was His Church refused , rather than criminally comply with ? Was it that her Sons should all turn Papists ? This indeed would notably vary the Scene of Affairs , and by casting the Over-ballance to that Party , alter the Politick Interest ; and yet even in such case the Dissenters would trust God's Providence and the King's Word for their Security . Is it that they should consent to repeal all the Penal Laws against Roman Catholicks , with a Reserve of those against Protestant Dissenters ? I am much more confident there never was any such shameful partial Dealing proposed unto them , than I am , that it was never voluntarily offered by them . But if it should be true , that they have made frank Overtures to rescind the Laws against the Romanists , and secure them in the next Reign , Provided themselves might be continued in their prosecuting Protestant Dissenters in this ; and that the same was rejected with a generous Indignation worthy of such a Proposition : Then it will not be difficult to guess both at the Nature and Prevalency of their boasted Smiles , and what Kindness Dissenters are to expect at their Hands , notwithstanding all their fair Pretensions . Either the Church of England opposeth Liberty of Conscience in general , and then justly engageth the Body of the Nation against her ; or only That of Roman Catholicks , and then they recede from their own Principles , for it cannot be forgot that they heretofore told the Dissenters , there was as much Reason the Roman Catholicks should be tolerated as They ; And to confirm it , many of her Communion frequently declared , That they would rather be Romans than Presbyterians . But it may still be urg'd , that the Church of England is now no more for persecuting , and would be content to give up all the Penal Laws on either side ; But cannot , dares not , part with the TESTS ; especially the last , whereby only Roman Catholicks are kept out of Parliament . For if She quit this Guard ; presently the Two Houses may be full of Roman Catholicks , who will establish their Religion by Law , or perhaps pretend it actually in Possession Jure Postliminii , And so the Protestant Religion shall be utterly suppress'd , and the Writ , De Haeretico comburendo revived , &c. This is the Topping Objection , but I think a very satisfactory Answer may be given to it . For , 1. Not to repeat what has already been offered of the King's Promises , the Paucity of the Romanists , and how their Interest stands in prospect of Futurity , I cannot but remind you , that no body that I have met with , supposes the removal of the Tests , without some equipollent Provision in the very same Act , that may obviate these Fears . And 't is inconceivable that the Wisdom of the Nation so refined , should yet be so barren , as not to be able to contrive some Civil Security as strong and safe , without Hampering of Conscience . For Why may there not be a Civil Test form'd , altogether as effectual , and yet not so obnoxious to Exceptions , as these Religious Ones ? 2. If we can secure due Elections and Regular Returns , we are safe ; for undoubtedly the Free-holders , Citizens and Burghers of England are not very fond of chusing Roman Catholicks for their Representatives . 3. As to any Apprehensions , that by taking away these Laws , the Roman should pretend a Right to be the National , establish'd Religion , by vertue of any Antiquated Statutes , that may easily be dash't by an Establishment or Confirmation of the present Church of England , as to all its Priviledges , but such as are Compulsory by Temporal Penalties , altogether unadequate means to secure Religion , and unnecessary to the Well-being of a Gospel-Church . 4. What if in the same Bill that vacates all the Old Penal Laws , it be by the King in Parliament , asserted and declared , that Liberty of Conscience is part of the Constitution of this Kingdom ; The natural Birth-right of every English Man ? And that all Persons endeavouring to undermine of subvert such Settlement , shall be adjudg'd Criminal , and liable to such Penalties as shall be thought fit ; all Acts tending thereunto , in themselves ab initio and for ever void . And every Member of either House of Parliament , obliged before he sits or acts , solemnly to make some such Declaration . 5. Or what if all the Penal Laws , together with the Test , debarring from Offices and Imployments , be abrogated , and only that relating to Members of Parliament be kept on foot ? Will none of these Expedients , or such better ones as may be contriv'd , allay your Fears ? That which alone must conclude any honest Man's Judgment , is the Resolution of this single Question . Whether Persecution in it self be lawful ? That is , whether for meer Opinions , or Exercise of Religious Worship , tho different from the national Form , yet no ways disturbing the Publick Peace , injuring Civil Society , or violating Morality , any Persons whatsoever ought according to the Law of God or Nature , be punish'd by Death , Banishment , Mulcts , Fines , or Imprisonments , or be rendred liable unto any Forfeitures of , or Preclusions from those Advantages and Priviledges , which otherwise they might justly pretend to , or ought to enjoy ? They , and They only , that will undertake to justify the Affirmative , may reasonably appear for the Continuance of the Penal Laws and Tests . But then , if they assert any kind of Persecution to be lawful , they ought also to tell us the Bounds and Limits of it , why the Penalties may not be sanguinary as well as pecuniary , positive as well as privative ? why we may not burn a Man for his supposed Error in Religion , as well as take away his Goods , or his Birth-right ? On the other side , all Those , who cannot but acknowledg such Statutes , and all Prosecutions thereupon to be unwarrantable , as being against the main Tendency of the Gospel , contrary to our Lord's Rule of doing as we would be done by , and opposite to the Maxims of Reason and Civil Policy , are bound in Conscience as well as Interest to declare and use their utmost Endeavours for the Abolition of all these burthensom destructive Laws . Nor will they be affrighted with any imagined bad Consequences , or a Noise of what Advantages ill Men may design to make by such a Repeal ; for as we are not to do Evil , that Good may come on 't , so we must not omit doing Right , whatever may be the Sequel . Let us perform our Duty , and then we may rest assured , that Divine Providence which superintends all the Affairs of this fading World , will dissipate the Councils of any Architophels , and either preserve us from , or support us under the worst they can contrive . But if the Dissenters wilfully lose this Opportunity which God and the King have graciously vouchsafed ; And shall in Distrust of Providence , as well as his Majesties Word , multiply to themselves groundless Fears ; and for certain supposed Politick Ends , quit both their Duty and Interest , to rely on Egyptian Reeds , and future improbable Expectancies , the Courtesy of a sort of People , whose tenderest Mercies they have found to be cruel ; and will assist to continue those very Statutes which their own Consciences cannot but tell them , are Irreligious and unjust , and under the Lash of which they have so lately and so severely smarted ; and by reason of this resolute Error against their own Convictions and Experience , shall happen hereafter to fall under a more dreadful Persecution , than ever heretofore ; ( 't is no matter by whose Hand : ) Must they not with Confusion of Face , acknowledg they have justly deserved it ? And that themselves have chiefly contributed to their own Miseries , and entail'd a Plague on all their Posterity ? He who is convinced , that Persecution for Religion is unlawful , and yet refuses to contribute all he can towards removing those Laws ( which either positively or privatively , for they both depend on the same Bottom ) injoin such Persecution ; let him pretend what Fears and Jealousies he will of ensuing Dangers from the doing of it , I know not how to excuse him from the just Imputation of being either a Fool or an Atheist . 'T is true , our Orator asserts , That 't is as justifiable to have NO RELIGION , as wilfully to throw away the humane Means of preserving it . But because I always thought Religion was best to be preserved by Religious Methods , and that a Church built upon the Rock , needs not the feeble Suports of Civil Force ; I would gladly learn what Humane Means are necessary or Expedient , or indeed adequate to preserve true Religion ? Sure I am the Christian Religion held up its Head , not only without , but against such Means for the first Centuries ; And yet then it was that it most flourish'd in purity , and spread it self throughout the World ; but as soon as Politicians would be adding their Humane Means to preserve it , and interwove it with Interest of State , from thence we commonly date its Declension . In a word , if it be the Interest both of the Papists of this Nation , and of all Protestant Dissenters , to have a General Liberty of Conscience firmly setled : If this be no real Disadvantage to the Church of England , but only keeps her from engrossing all Offices and Employments , which caused her to be envied ; and from ruining her innocent Neighbours , which made her hated ; and is both her Guilt and her Shame : If by the Gospel , no Man is to be abridged of any of his Civil-Rights for his different Opinion in Religion ; Since we may have as good Security for the Enjoyment of this Liberty for ever as we our selves can reasonably contrive ; since we have felt and found so many Evils attending Persecution , and never any Good , It seems to me Unaccountable why we should not all readily and harmoniously agree to the Total Extirpation of all Tests and Penal Laws for Religion , and heartily endeavour the Establishment of that Vniversal Liberty , which only can render the Nation lastingly Quiet and Happy . I am not so unacquainted with the ill-natur'd World , as not to foresee , that for this free Publication of my Thoughts , I must expect to encountre a thousand Scandals and Calumnies ; But — — Hic Murus ahaenus esto , Nil conscire sibi . Being conscious of nothing but an unbiass'd honest Intention , I can smile at , and pitty the impotent Malice of false Reports . Having taken up that resolution of Quinctius Cincinnatus — Vellem equidem vobis placere , Quirites ! Sed multo malo vos salvos esse , qualicunque erga me animo sitis futuri . THE END . Notes, typically marginal, from the original text Notes for div A33738-e120 * See my Lord Coke's Charge given at Norwich Assizes , 4 Aug. 1606 4th page of the sheet F. ( for 't is not paged . )