Advice to freeholders and other electors of members to serve in Parliament in relation to the penal laws and the tests : in a letter to a friend in the conntry [sic].
         Penn, William, 1644-1718.
      
       
         
           1687
        
      
       Approx. 36 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 7 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images.
       
         Text Creation Partnership,
         Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :
         2006-06 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).
         A54101
         Wing P1250
         ESTC R21615
         12361511
         ocm 12361511
         60242
         
           
            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. A54101)
         Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 60242)
         Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 645:8)
      
       
         
           
             Advice to freeholders and other electors of members to serve in Parliament in relation to the penal laws and the tests : in a letter to a friend in the conntry [sic].
             Penn, William, 1644-1718.
          
           12 p.
           
             Printed, and sold, by Andrew Sowle ...,
             [London :
             1687]
          
           
             Caption title.
             Imprint from colophon.
             Attributed to William Penn by Wing.
             Reproduction of original in Bodleian 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.
      
       
         EEBO-TCP is a partnership between the Universities of Michigan and Oxford and the publisher ProQuest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by ProQuest via their Early English Books Online (EEBO) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). The general aim of EEBO-TCP is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic English-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in EEBO.
         EEBO-TCP aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the Text Encoding Initiative (http://www.tei-c.org).
         The EEBO-TCP project was divided into two phases. The 25,363 texts created during Phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 January 2015. Anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source.
         Users should be aware of the process of creating the TCP texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data.
         Text selection was based on the New Cambridge Bibliography of English Literature (NCBEL). If an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in NCBEL, then their works are eligible for inclusion. Selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. In general, first editions of a works in English were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably Latin and Welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so.
         Image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. Quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in Oxford and Michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet QA standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. After proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. Any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. Understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of TCP data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. Users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a TCP editor.
         The texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the TEI in Libraries guidelines.
         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
      
       
         
           Freedom of religion.
           Dissenters, Religious -- Legal status, laws, etc. -- England.
           Church and state -- England.
        
      
    
     
        2005-07 TCP
        Assigned for keying and markup
      
        2005-08 Aptara
        Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images
      
        2006-01 Emma (Leeson) Huber
        Sampled and proofread
      
        2006-01 Emma (Leeson) Huber
        Text and markup reviewed and edited
      
        2006-04 pfs
        Batch review (QC) and XML conversion
      
    
  
   
     
       
         
         
         
           Advice
           to
           Freeholders
           and
           other
           Electors
           of
           Members
           to
           serve
           in
           PARLIAMENT
           ▪
           In
           Relation
           to
           the
           PENAL
           LAWS
           and
           the
           TESTS
           .
        
         
           In
           a
           Letter
           to
           a
           Friend
           in
           the
           Country
           .
        
         
           With
           Allowance
           .
        
         
           
             SIR
             .
          
        
         
           IT
           having
           pleased
           the
           King
           ,
           to
           emit
           a
           gracious
           Declaration
           for
           
             Liberty
             of
             Conscience
          
           ,
           and
           it
           being
           more
           than
           probable
           ,
           that
           the
           matter
           thereof
           ,
           may
           be
           the
           Subject
           of
           the
           next
           Parliament
           ;
           I
           do
           here
           present
           you
           (
           my
           old
           Friend
           )
           with
           some
           of
           the
           Motives
           ,
           inclining
           me
           to
           exert
           my self
           to
           my
           Ability
           ,
           when
           called
           to
           it
           (
           whatsoever
           Opposition
           or
           Censure
           ,
           may
           therein
           attend
           me
           )
           for
           the
           Election
           of
           such
           Members
           as
           may
           concur
           with
           his
           Majesty
           ,
           in
           giving
           Sanction
           to
           this
           Indulgence
           (
           it
           being
           what
           we
           have
           long
           wanted
           ,
           and
           wished
           for
           )
           and
           in
           securing
           it
           to
           after
           Ages
           ,
           which
           is
           as
           undoubtedly
           the
           King
           's
           Royal
           Purpose
           ,
           as
           it
           is
           our
           common
           Interest
           ;
           my
           Reasons
           are
           .
        
         
           1.
           
           That
           herein
           I
           shall
           be
           found
           to
           act
           in
           consistency
           with
           my
           constant
           Principle
           ,
           for
           I
           always
           esteemed
           it
           ,
           to
           be
           a
           glorious
           Work
           ,
           to
           set
           Conscience
           free
           from
           Church-Tyranny
           ,
           and
           to
           extricate
           the
           Nation
           from
           the
           intolerable
           Burden
           of
           destructive
           
             Penal
             Laws
          
           .
        
         
         
           2.
           
           That
           in
           the
           present
           Undertaking
           ;
           I
           see
           my
           Security
           ,
           we
           have
           in
           this
           happy
           Juncture
           ,
           the
           Advantage
           of
           promoting
           what
           we
           highly
           prize
           ,
           and
           that
           with
           his
           Majestie
           's
           Royal
           Recommendation
           ;
           so
           we
           are
           safe
           (
           whosoever
           snarles
           )
           in
           conforming
           ,
           to
           so
           great
           ,
           so
           good
           ,
           and
           so
           wise
           a
           Resolution
           ,
           as
           the
           King
           has
           propitiously
           taken
           .
           And
           moreover
           ,
        
         
           3.
           
           Gratitude
           to
           his
           Majesty
           for
           this
           Declaration
           ,
           and
           for
           his
           gracious
           
             Proclamation
             of
             Pardon
          
           of
           the
           10th
           ,
           of
           
             March
             1685
          
           ,
           engages
           and
           spurs
           me
           (
           as
           I
           hope
           it
           will
           do
           Multitudes
           )
           to
           promote
           with
           my
           utmost
           Might
           ,
           this
           present
           Work
           ,
           as
           it
           is
           a
           thing
           acceptable
           to
           the
           King.
           
        
         
           To
           add
           no
           more
           ,
           these
           Reasons
           are
           prevalent
           with
           me
           ,
           and
           if
           they
           may
           dispose
           you
           to
           contribute
           to
           the
           making
           proper
           Elections
           ,
           so
           that
           his
           Majestie
           's
           gracious
           Purpose
           ,
           for
           the
           Relief
           and
           Tranquility
           of
           his
           People
           ,
           may
           not
           be
           frustrated
           ,
           by
           unreasonable
           Malecontents
           ,
           it
           will
           be
           most
           grateful
           to
           me
           ;
           for
           I
           know
           you
           to
           be
           very
           capable
           ,
           of
           contributing
           significantly
           to
           this
           publick
           Good.
           
        
         
           I
           perceive
           that
           some
           of
           your
           Neighbours
           are
           beating
           their
           Brains
           for
           Arguments
           ,
           to
           justify
           the
           upholding
           the
           
             persecuting
             Laws
          
           ,
           and
           the
           discriminating
           ,
           and
           most
           unreasonable
           Tests
           :
           With
           me
           it
           is
           out
           of
           Question
           ,
           that
           those
           Men
           ,
           are
           very
           narrow
           soul'd
           ,
           and
           their
           Maxims
           ill
           grounded
           ;
           pray
           therefore
           bear
           with
           me
           ,
           that
           I
           present
           you
           with
           my
           Thoughts
           ,
           of
           the
           great
           Point
           now
           agitated
           ,
           
             Liberty
             of
             Conscience
          
           ,
           or
           Toleration
           .
        
         
           I
           am
           well
           satisfied
           ,
           of
           the
           Truth
           ,
           and
           Stability
           of
           the
           following
           Positions
           ,
           and
           he
           that
           is
           so
           ,
           must
           cease
           to
           Love
           Persecution
           .
        
         
           1.
           
           
             Liberty
             of
             Conscience
          
           is
           consonant
           to
           the
           Gospel
           which
           no
           where
           countenances
           Force
           and
           Compulsion
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           To
           grant
           this
           Liberty
           ,
           is
           the
           true
           Interest
           both
           of
           Prince
           and
           People
           ,
           to
           evince
           the
           Truth
           of
           these
           ,
           let
           it
           be
           considered
           as
           to
           the
           first
           :
        
         
           That
           
             Liberty
             of
             Conscience
          
           is
           consonant
           to
           the
           Gospel
           .
           It
           is
           a
           Gospel
           of
           Peace
           ,
           and
           not
           of
           Force
           and
           Fury
           :
           If
           so
           ,
           it
           is
           most
           unbeseeming
           this
           Gospel
           ,
           to
           do
           things
           rashly
           and
           violently
           ,
           for
           its
           Advancement
           ,
           it
           is
           not
           to
           be
           so
           propagated
           :
           Its
           Language
           is
           ,
           
             he
             that
             believes
             shall
             be
             saved
             .
          
           And
           our
           blessed
           Lord
           ,
           and
           his
           Apostles
           (
           who
           had
           the
           command
           of
           all
           Power
           )
           to
           bring
           Men
           to
           this
           Faith
           ,
           used
           Instruction
           ,
           Perswasion
           ,
           and
           Reasoning
           ,
           but
           never
           went
           about
           to
           deal
           with
           Mens
           Consciences
           ,
           by
           Violence
           ;
           they
           used
           no
           Sword
           but
           that
           of
           the
           Spirit
           ,
           and
           left
           every
           Man
           to
           his
           own
           Light.
           
        
         
           Error
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           Truth
           ,
           is
           seated
           in
           the
           Mind
           of
           Man
           ,
           and
           we
           are
           without
           one
           Instance
           since
           the
           Creation
           ,
           where
           Compulsion
           ever
           wrought
           a
           Change
           in
           any
           ones
           Principles
           ,
           tho
           it
           hath
           wrought
           on
           many
           ,
           to
           deny
           or
           conceal
           their
           Opinions
           .
           The
           Soul
           of
           Man
           is
           out
           of
           the
           reach
           of
           the
           Magistrates
           Sword
           ,
           and
           therefore
           't
           is
           as
           vain
           to
           pretend
           to
           direct
           
           what
           I
           shall
           believe
           ,
           and
           to
           force
           in
           me
           a
           Faith
           of
           any
           thing
           ,
           as
           't
           is
           to
           attempt
           to
           bring
           the
           Angels
           under
           an
           outward
           secular
           Power
           .
           Compulsion
           undoubtedly
           will
           dispose
           a
           Man
           to
           hate
           whatsoever
           is
           so
           proposed
           ,
           and
           not
           better
           evinced
           .
           To
           proceed
           ,
        
         
           2.
           
           That
           
             Liberty
             of
             Conscience
          
           is
           the
           Interest
           both
           of
           the
           King
           and
           his
           People
           ,
           this
           is
           well
           proved
           ,
           by
           the
           invincible
           Reasons
           in
           his
           Majesties
           gratious
           Declaration
           ,
           which
           are
           these
           .
        
         
           1.
           
           The
           Glory
           of
           the
           King.
           2.
           
           The
           Peoples
           Peace
           .
           3.
           
           Union
           between
           the
           King
           and
           his
           People
           .
           4.
           
           The
           Unreasonableness
           of
           constraining
           Conscience
           ,
           and
           forceing
           People
           in
           matters
           of
           meer
           Religion
           .
           5.
           
           The
           Mischiefs
           of
           Compulsion
           by
           spoiling
           Trade
           ,
           depopulating
           Countries
           ,
           and
           discouraging
           Strangers
           .
           And
           lastly
           ,
           the
           ill
           Success
           which
           Force
           has
           had
           in
           Religious
           Matters
           ,
           which
           shews
           the
           invincible
           Difficulties
           which
           attend
           those
           Methods
           .
        
         
           1.
           
           The
           Glory
           of
           the
           King.
           Will
           any
           Member
           of
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           (
           so
           fam'd
           for
           Loyalty
           )
           repine
           at
           his
           Majesties
           being
           truly
           Glorious
           ?
           surely
           no
           ;
           and
           hath
           not
           this
           his
           Act
           of
           Tenderness
           ,
           added
           highly
           to
           his
           Glory
           ?
           It
           undoubtedly
           hath
           :
           It
           secures
           not
           only
           common
           Homage
           of
           Obedience
           ,
           and
           Subjection
           to
           his
           Majesty
           ;
           but
           with
           it
           ,
           that
           more
           noble
           ,
           of
           the
           Hearts
           and
           Affections
           ,
           of
           a
           very
           great
           multitude
           of
           his
           People
           ,
           who
           are
           sober
           ,
           serious
           ,
           industrious
           ,
           and
           also
           wealthy
           ;
           these
           by
           Persecution
           have
           been
           made
           heartless
           in
           themselves
           ,
           and
           useless
           in
           a
           very
           great
           Measure
           ,
           to
           the
           King
           ,
           and
           Kingdom
           :
           I
           say
           this
           Indulgence
           hath
           secured
           to
           the
           King
           the
           Hearts
           of
           his
           dissenting
           Subjects
           ,
           who
           are
           brought
           to
           depend
           upon
           him
           ,
           and
           they
           will
           love
           him
           ,
           who
           favours
           and
           protects
           them
           ,
           and
           hath
           put
           them
           into
           a
           Posture
           ,
           than
           which
           they
           can
           never
           hope
           for
           a
           better
           ;
           and
           seeing
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           cannot
           but
           love
           him
           ,
           and
           be
           Loyal
           ,
           he
           is
           without
           Controversy
           become
           the
           most
           Glorious
           ,
           because
           the
           greatest
           ,
           and
           most
           beloved
           Prince
           ,
           that
           ever
           yet
           swayed
           the
           English
           Scepter
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           The
           Peoples
           Peace
           .
           Do
           not
           we
           know
           by
           sad
           Experience
           ,
           how
           greatly
           Coercion
           in
           things
           relating
           to
           God
           and
           Conscience
           ,
           has
           disturbed
           the
           Peace
           of
           Mankind
           ,
           and
           created
           terrible
           Concussions
           in
           these
           Kingdoms
           ?
           What
           lamentable
           Divisions
           and
           Animosities
           ,
           have
           we
           beheld
           to
           spring
           from
           the
           Execution
           of
           the
           
             Penal
             Laws
          
           ,
           and
           how
           dismally
           sad
           have
           been
           their
           Effects
           ?
           It
           is
           not
           reasonable
           to
           imagine
           that
           Persecution
           should
           not
           disgust
           those
           who
           suffer
           ;
           and
           By-slanders
           (
           tho
           otherwise
           perswaded
           as
           to
           Religion
           )
           are
           dissatisfied
           ,
           to
           behold
           their
           peaceable
           honest
           dealing
           Neighbours
           ,
           torn
           to
           pieces
           for
           Conscience
           sake
           ,
           such
           are
           disposed
           to
           pity
           the
           Sufferers
           ,
           and
           to
           dislike
           the
           Severities
           wherewith
           they
           are
           exercised
           .
        
         
         
           3.
           
           Union
           between
           the
           King
           and
           his
           People
           .
           It
           is
           most
           evident
           that
           the
           Disaffection
           ,
           which
           not
           long
           since
           had
           overspread
           our
           Horizon
           ,
           did
           spring
           from
           the
           Severities
           of
           the
           Laws
           ,
           and
           of
           their
           Execution
           .
           The
           happy
           Union
           between
           Prince
           and
           People
           has
           been
           (
           if
           not
           broken
           )
           to
           a
           very
           great
           degree
           weakened
           ,
           by
           a
           mistaken
           Maxim
           ,
           that
           but
           one
           part
           of
           his
           Majesties
           Subjects
           (
           and
           that
           a
           much
           lesser
           part
           ,
           than
           some
           are
           willing
           they
           should
           be
           thought
           )
           deserved
           to
           live
           ,
           and
           to
           be
           protected
           :
           This
           too
           predominant
           Opinion
           ,
           did
           manifestly
           narrow
           the
           Interest
           of
           the
           King
           ,
           by
           confining
           it
           to
           one
           Party
           ;
           but
           blessed
           be
           God
           ,
           and
           the
           King
           ,
           that
           we
           have
           out
           lived
           that
           fond
           Conceit
           ,
           and
           that
           we
           see
           ,
           that
           
             Liberty
             of
             Conscience
          
           hath
           united
           the
           Dissenters
           to
           his
           Majesty
           ,
           and
           that
           he
           becomes
           the
           common
           Father
           of
           all
           his
           People
           .
        
         
           4.
           
           The
           Unreasonableness
           of
           constraining
           Conscience
           ,
           and
           forcing
           People
           in
           matters
           of
           meer
           Religion
           .
           Conscience
           is
           God's
           peculiar
           ,
           and
           so
           out
           of
           Man's
           Jurisdiction
           :
           Is
           it
           not
           then
           most
           unreasonable
           ,
           to
           have
           it
           floating
           about
           at
           the
           Will
           of
           humane
           Powers
           ,
           and
           to
           oblige
           Christians
           to
           suffer
           or
           to
           fall
           in
           with
           all
           Changes
           of
           Religion
           ?
           It
           is
           unreasonable
           ,
           because
           impossible
           ,
           to
           compel
           a
           Man
           to
           the
           Belief
           of
           any
           thing
           ,
           out
           of
           the
           compass
           of
           his
           Knowledg
           ;
           our
           Lord
           left
           neither
           Precept
           nor
           President
           for
           such
           a
           Practice
           :
           Men
           under
           the
           Gospel
           are
           first
           to
           be
           enlightned
           ,
           and
           then
           to
           practice
           in
           Conformity
           thereto
           :
           The
           way
           of
           dealing
           with
           Men
           by
           Violence
           ,
           was
           in
           all
           Ages
           unsuccessful
           ,
           therefore
           't
           is
           more
           than
           time
           to
           explode
           it
           ;
           
             &
             ad
             hominem
          
           ,
           to
           give
           one
           irrefragible
           Argument
           to
           our
           Church
           of
           England
           (
           which
           at
           this
           day
           ,
           is
           ,
           or
           would
           be
           the
           Persecutor
           of
           her
           Brethren
           ;
           )
           Is
           it
           not
           unreasonable
           ,
           nay
           absur'd
           ,
           that
           that
           Church
           which
           in
           its
           Doctrin
           allows
           
             Judicium
             discretionis
          
           ,
           a
           liberty
           of
           judging
           for
           our selves
           ,
           and
           pretends
           not
           to
           Infallibility
           ;
           should
           require
           me
           to
           change
           my
           Opinion
           ,
           and
           to
           be
           of
           hers
           ,
           when
           I
           conceive
           my self
           to
           be
           in
           the
           right
           ,
           and
           she
           hath
           no
           infallible
           Assurance
           that
           she
           is
           not
           in
           the
           wrong
           ?
        
         
           5.
           
           The
           Mischiefs
           of
           Compulsion
           ,
           in
           spoiling
           Trade
           ,
           depopulating
           the
           Country
           ,
           and
           discouraging
           Strangers
           ,
           amongst
           the
           many
           mischievous
           Events
           which
           we
           have
           seen
           ,
           from
           the
           denyal
           of
           
             Liberty
             of
             Conscience
          
           ,
           that
           upon
           Trade
           is
           not
           the
           least
           ,
           nor
           to
           be
           last
           mentioned
           :
           Imposition
           in
           Religion
           damps
           mens
           Undertakings
           ,
           and
           hath
           drove
           Multitudes
           into
           forreign
           Parts
           ,
           and
           not
           a
           few
           to
           a
           Retirement
           from
           their
           Trades
           ,
           and
           Vocations
           ,
           who
           would
           otherwise
           have
           been
           very
           useful
           to
           the
           Common-wealth
           ▪
           Conscientious
           Men
           have
           a
           very
           sow
           Esteem
           of
           all
           things
           ,
           compared
           with
           their
           religious
           Liberty
           ;
           who
           will
           lay
           out
           his
           Estate
           and
           Trade
           freely
           ,
           where
           the
           bare
           exercising
           his
           Religion
           ,
           gives
           vile
           Informers
           a
           Power
           to
           dispoil
           him
           of
           his
           Substance
           ?
           Toleration
           in
           the
           united
           Netherlands
           ,
           hath
           brought
           them
           from
           all
           parts
           of
           Europe
           ,
           a
           Confluence
           of
           
           People
           ,
           and
           by
           consequence
           of
           Treasure
           ,
           and
           Trade
           ;
           wherefore
           their
           Policy
           ,
           has
           heretofore
           ,
           as
           much
           approved
           our
           pressing
           a
           Uniformity
           here
           ,
           as
           they
           now
           seem
           disturbed
           at
           our
           
             Liberty
             of
             Conscience
          
           ,
           it
           being
           that
           ,
           which
           with
           so
           great
           Advantage
           they
           have
           long
           monopolized
           .
           And
           Lastly
           ,
           The
           ill
           Success
           which
           Force
           in
           Religious
           Matters
           has
           always
           been
           attended
           with
           :
           Compulsion
           never
           attained
           the
           intended
           End
           ,
           it
           may
           ,
           and
           hath
           too
           often
           made
           Hypocrites
           ,
           never
           sincere
           Converts
           .
           The
           earnest
           desire
           of
           Liberty
           when
           refused
           ,
           creates
           Discontents
           ,
           which
           boile
           in
           the
           Breasts
           of
           Men
           ,
           and
           have
           too
           often
           broken
           out
           ,
           to
           the
           endangering
           Governments
           ;
           for
           Persons
           of
           differing
           Sentiments
           in
           Religion
           will
           unite
           in
           an
           Opposition
           to
           the
           Force
           about
           Religious
           Things
           ,
           which
           renders
           every
           dissenting
           Party
           uneasy
           ,
           so
           that
           the
           Danger
           seems
           to
           lye
           in
           Persecution
           for
           Conscience
           sake
           ,
           and
           not
           in
           the
           having
           under
           one
           Government
           several
           Perswasions
           and
           Parties
           in
           Religion
           .
        
         
           I
           shall
           now
           proceed
           to
           the
           Objections
           made
           against
           this
           
             Liberty
             of
             Conscience
          
           ,
           and
           the
           Repeal
           of
           the
           
             Penal
             Laws
          
           ,
           by
           some
           very
           warm
           Clergy
           Men
           (
           for
           the
           Church
           is
           not
           a
           little
           divided
           in
           this
           Point
           ,
           and
           the
           best
           ,
           possibly
           the
           greatest
           part
           thereof
           ,
           will
           be
           found
           not
           to
           approve
           Persecution
           .
           )
        
         
           1.
           
           They
           say
           ,
           their
           
             Opposition
             arises
             from
             a
             Dread
             of
             Popery
             .
          
           To
           answer
           these
           Gentlemen
           ,
           and
           dissipate
           their
           Fears
           .
        
         
           1.
           
           Can
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           (
           Circumstances
           considered
           )
           possibly
           invent
           a
           better
           Security
           than
           she
           hath
           by
           his
           Majesties
           Declaration
           ?
           That
           first
           of
           all
           Declares
           ,
           that
           the
           King
           will
           protect
           and
           maintain
           Her
           ,
           in
           the
           free
           Exercise
           of
           her
           Religion
           ,
           as
           ,
           by
           Law
           established
           ,
           and
           in
           the
           quiet
           and
           full
           Enjoyment
           of
           all
           her
           Possessions
           without
           any
           Molestation
           or
           Disturbance
           whatsoever
           .
           What
           would
           she
           further
           have
           ?
           Will
           she
           call
           into
           question
           the
           Sincerity
           of
           his
           Majesties
           Promise
           ?
           The
           King
           intends
           the
           Concurrence
           of
           a
           Parliament
           for
           the
           establishing
           the
           Indulgence
           ,
           and
           the
           abolishing
           the
           Tests
           and
           
             Penal
             Laws
          
           :
           It
           will
           be
           then
           seasonable
           ,
           for
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           to
           ask
           her
           further
           Security
           ,
           if
           she
           will
           pretend
           to
           stand
           in
           need
           thereof
           .
        
         
           2.
           
           Let
           the
           Church
           consider
           that
           the
           King
           only
           takes
           from
           her
           the
           Power
           of
           doing
           Mischief
           .
           She
           will
           not
           pretend
           to
           deny
           his
           Majesty
           
             Liberty
             of
             Conscience
          
           ;
           If
           she
           doth
           not
           ,
           can
           she
           expect
           by
           his
           Permission
           and
           Authority
           to
           cudgel
           her
           fellow
           Subjects
           into
           a
           Communion
           which
           he
           doth
           not
           approve
           ,
           and
           that
           after
           he
           hath
           so
           solemnly
           declared
           his
           Royal
           Judgment
           to
           be
           against
           all
           Persecution
           for
           Conscience
           sake
           ?
           He
           intends
           not
           to
           deprive
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           of
           such
           Laws
           as
           are
           defensive
           of
           her
           Religion
           and
           Possessions
           ,
           but
           only
           to
           abrogate
           such
           Statutes
           ,
           as
           the
           Iniquity
           or
           short-sightedness
           of
           past
           Ages
           hath
           armed
           her
           with
           to
           annoy
           and
           
           offend
           her
           Neighbours
           ;
           Laws
           wicked
           in
           themselves
           ,
           and
           which
           she
           hath
           too
           long
           ,
           very
           wickedly
           executed
           ,
           and
           therefore
           very
           fit
           to
           be
           yielded
           up
           .
        
         
           The
           Objectors
           fear
           of
           Popery
           ,
           by
           the
           Repeal
           of
           the
           
             Penal
             Statutes
          
           ,
           is
           not
           easily
           to
           be
           comprehended
           ;
           let
           the
           Papists
           ,
           with
           all
           other
           the
           Kings
           Subjects
           ,
           be
           restored
           to
           what
           ought
           to
           be
           theirs
           ,
           by
           the
           Laws
           of
           God
           ,
           and
           let
           them
           have
           their
           Birth-rights
           ,
           and
           we
           have
           them
           in
           the
           common
           Interest
           of
           the
           Nation
           .
           Such
           who
           are
           in
           love
           with
           Persecution
           ,
           may
           not
           think
           to
           make
           the
           Romanists
           uneasy
           ,
           in
           the
           Reign
           of
           the
           present
           King
           ;
           let
           us
           then
           weigh
           it
           ,
           whether
           it
           be
           not
           the
           best
           Discretion
           ,
           to
           secure
           them
           of
           Ease
           in
           the
           next
           Reign
           .
        
         
           
             Another
             Objection
             brought
             for
             keeping
             up
             the
          
           Penal
           Laws
           is
           ,
           That
           they
           for
           whom
           Liberty
           is
           desired
           ,
           are
           Factious
           ,
           and
           that
           it
           will
           strengthen
           those
           who
           have
           always
           been
           for
           a
           Common-Wealth
           .
           
             Of
             what
             force
             this
             Objection
             is
             ,
             will
             be
             seen
             ,
             if
             it
             be
             considered
             .
          
        
         
           That
           Persecution
           foments
           Faction
           ,
           but
           Liberty
           wins
           over
           the
           Malecontent
           ,
           if
           not
           ,
           it
           lays
           him
           open
           ,
           and
           will
           make
           every
           Body
           ready
           to
           be
           his
           Executioner
           .
           Violence
           may
           have
           forced
           many
           to
           factious
           Practises
           ,
           who
           were
           not
           ,
           nor
           would
           not
           chuse
           be
           Factious
           ,
           Oppression
           making
           the
           wise
           Man
           mad
           :
           Give
           Men
           Security
           in
           their
           worshipping
           God
           ,
           and
           you
           may
           soon
           distinguish
           between
           Conscience
           and
           Faction
           .
           It
           hath
           been
           well
           observed
           ,
           that
           no
           Government
           is
           endangered
           by
           the
           People
           it
           seeks
           to
           preserve
           :
           Did
           not
           the
           Church
           ,
           by
           Rigour
           and
           Severity
           in
           time
           past
           ,
           drive
           many
           Dissenters
           from
           their
           Native
           Country
           ,
           and
           force
           those
           who
           remained
           ,
           to
           shelter
           themselves
           under
           the
           Enemies
           of
           the
           Crown
           ?
           I
           justify
           not
           the
           Practice
           ,
           nor
           can
           the
           Fact
           be
           denyed
           :
           The
           King
           is
           at
           this
           Day
           ,
           by
           his
           transcendent
           Grace
           &
           Tenderness
           to
           Consciences
           become
           Master
           of
           the
           Hearts
           ,
           and
           by
           consequence
           of
           the
           Lives
           and
           Estates
           of
           his
           dissenting
           Subjects
           .
        
         
           I
           shall
           in
           the
           next
           place
           take
           the
           liberty
           of
           offering
           some
           things
           to
           the
           Consideration
           of
           all
           our
           Country-men
           ,
           both
           of
           such
           as
           are
           Members
           of
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           ,
           and
           of
           Dissenters
           .
        
         
           1.
           
           The
           Gentlemen
           of
           the
           established
           Church
           may
           please
           to
           remember
           ,
           that
           their
           Church
           ,
           when
           brought
           under
           ,
           pleaded
           for
           Liberty
           ,
           and
           thankfully
           accepted
           it
           from
           the
           late
           Usurpers
           ;
           surely
           then
           ,
           they
           will
           ,
           or
           ought
           to
           deport
           themselves
           decently
           in
           this
           Juncture
           ,
           to
           their
           lawful
           Soveraign
           (
           differing
           from
           them
           in
           Religion
           )
           and
           not
           censure
           ,
           or
           repine
           at
           his
           Resolution
           to
           make
           all
           his
           People
           easy
           ,
           when
           that
           same
           Clemency
           of
           the
           Kings
           ,
           secures
           them
           in
           their
           Religion
           ,
           with
           the
           comfortable
           Addition
           of
           their
           large
           Possessions
           .
        
         
           Let
           them
           consider
           their
           antient
           Loyalty
           (
           interwoven
           with
           their
           Religion
           )
           and
           approve
           themselves
           (
           against
           those
           ,
           who
           begin
           to
           accuse
           them
           of
           turning
           upon
           the
           Government
           )
           what
           they
           have
           always
           boasted
           ,
           unalterably
           Loyal
           .
        
         
         
           Shall
           the
           Fanaticks
           with
           alacrity
           come
           into
           the
           King's
           Interest
           ,
           and
           will
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           appear
           sullen
           ,
           soure
           and
           averse
           thereto
           ?
           I
           am
           confident
           she
           will
           not
           :
           To
           clear
           up
           my
           meaning
           herein
           ,
           let
           me
           tell
           you
           ,
           I
           take
           not
           the
           Clergy
           to
           constitute
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           :
           No
           ,
           not
           in
           conjunction
           with
           some
           cloudy
           ,
           morose
           &
           ambitious
           great
           Men
           ,
           who
           seem
           at
           this
           Day
           to
           abet
           their
           Discontents
           ,
           but
           the
           People
           who
           joyn
           in
           her
           Communion
           ,
           will
           be
           found
           to
           be
           the
           best
           ,
           &
           by
           far
           the
           greatest
           part
           of
           that
           Church
           .
        
         
           The
           Ecclesiasticks
           and
           some
           of
           their
           designing
           Adherents
           ,
           are
           indeed
           angry
           ,
           and
           why
           ?
           Because
           his
           Majesty
           resolves
           they
           shall
           not
           confound
           their
           Neighbours
           :
           But
           did
           you
           ever
           observe
           a
           violent
           persecuting
           Minister
           ,
           to
           enjoy
           the
           Hearts
           of
           the
           People
           who
           lent
           him
           their
           Ears
           ?
           You
           may
           remember
           ,
           that
           in
           our
           late
           highly
           contested
           Elections
           of
           Parliament
           Men
           ,
           we
           saw
           in
           many
           parts
           of
           the
           Kingdom
           the
           rigid
           ,
           siery
           Parson
           abandoned
           his
           by
           Flock
           ,
           and
           galloping
           to
           give
           his
           single
           Voice
           ,
           which
           was
           all
           that
           he
           and
           his
           Horse
           could
           bring
           in
           ;
           the
           Parish
           certainly
           falling
           in
           with
           the
           Side
           which
           he
           opposed
           ,
           and
           why
           ?
           Because
           detesting
           his
           Spirit
           and
           Principles
           ,
           they
           could
           not
           be
           disposed
           to
           esteem
           him
           a
           good
           Man
           for
           whom
           their
           Minister
           voted
           .
           May
           this
           go
           for
           some
           sort
           of
           measure
           of
           the
           Churches
           Interest
           ?
           I
           think
           we
           cannot
           readily
           have
           a
           better
           ,
           than
           that
           of
           the
           Freedom
           of
           voting
           in
           Elections
           ,
           how
           miserably
           then
           will
           that
           Interest
           be
           found
           to
           dwindle
           ,
           when
           the
           Clergy
           shall
           come
           stript
           of
           the
           Advantage
           of
           compelling
           Men
           into
           it
           ,
           by
           making
           use
           of
           the
           Kings
           Name
           (
           to
           that
           they
           were
           formerly
           owing
           their
           Success
           where
           they
           found
           it
           ,
           and
           not
           to
           the
           Esteem
           they
           had
           with
           their
           own
           Members
           .
           )
           I
           have
           heard
           some
           compute
           ,
           that
           not
           above
           one
           5th
           or
           6th
           .
           part
           of
           the
           known
           World
           is
           Christian
           :
           It
           will
           be
           found
           that
           his
           Majesties
           Interest
           in
           his
           People
           ,
           vastly
           excels
           that
           of
           the
           Clergies
           ,
           and
           that
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           in
           the
           Point
           now
           discussed
           ,
           
             Liberty
             of
             Conscience
          
           ,
           will
           not
           be
           found
           to
           comprehend
           such
           a
           part
           of
           the
           Nation
           ,
           as
           the
           Christians
           make
           of
           the
           World.
           
        
         
           Would
           our
           Militant
           Church-men
           but
           put
           on
           Temper
           ,
           and
           sequester
           so
           much
           Time
           ,
           as
           to
           weigh
           with
           calmness
           and
           deliberation
           ,
           the
           Opinions
           of
           the
           most
           eminent
           Divines
           of
           their
           Church
           ,
           in
           the
           Point
           of
           Imposition
           ,
           they
           would
           be
           found
           no
           Friends
           to
           Persecution
           .
           Reverend
           Dr.
           Taylor
           ,
           late
           Bishop
           of
           Downe
           ,
           thus
           expressed
           himself
           for
           
             Liberty
             of
             Conscience
          
           ,
           viz
           ,
           
             I
             do
             earnestly
             contend
             ,
             that
             another
             Mans
             Opinion
             shall
             be
             no
             Rule
             to
             mine
             ,
             and
             that
             my
             Opinion
             shall
             be
             no
             Snare
             or
             Prejudice
             to
             my self
             .
          
           In
           another
           place
           that
           learned
           Man
           proceeds
           thus
           ;
           
             It
             is
             a
             part
             of
             Christian
             Religion
             ,
             that
             the
             Liberty
             of
             Mens
             Consciences
             should
             be
             preserved
             in
             all
             things
             ,
             where
             God
             hath
             not
             set
             a
             Limit
             .
          
           And
           further
           —
           
             The
             same
             Meekess
             and
             Charity
             should
             be
             preserved
             in
             propagating
             Christianity
             ,
             which
             was
             in
             its
             first
             Publication
             .
          
        
         
           
             The
             Reverend
             and
             Learned
             Dr.
          
           Stillingfleet
           did
           once
           apprehend
           the
           
           
             Mischief
             of
          
           Imposition
           ,
           
             when
             he
             declared
             his
             Opinion
             to
             be
             ,
          
           That
           Non-conformity
           to
           any
           suspected
           Practise
           ,
           required
           by
           any
           Church
           Governor
           ,
           as
           the
           Condition
           of
           her
           Communion
           ,
           was
           lawful
           ,
           if
           the
           thing
           so
           required
           ,
           was
           judged
           unwarrantable
           by
           a
           Man
           's
           own
           Conscience
           .
        
         
           I
           have
           been
           told
           and
           doubt
           not
           the
           Truth
           thereof
           ,
           that
           a
           late
           Reverend
           Prelate
           ,
           Dr.
           Brownrig
           (
           who
           lived
           to
           see
           the
           Restoration
           of
           his
           late
           Majesty
           ,
           and
           of
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           secured
           ,
           tho'
           not
           actually
           accomplished
           )
           did
           upon
           his
           Death-Bed
           lament
           the
           imposing
           presecuting
           Spirit
           ,
           which
           he
           foresaw
           would
           return
           with
           the
           Church
           :
           And
           I
           think
           I
           have
           good
           ground
           to
           say
           ,
           that
           at
           a
           late
           Conference
           between
           a
           Bishop
           (
           whose
           Health
           is
           drank
           throughout
           the
           Kingdom
           )
           and
           some
           of
           his
           Clergy
           of
           great
           note
           ,
           a
           dignified
           Doctor
           of
           eminent
           Learning
           ,
           and
           candor
           of
           Spirit
           ,
           did
           very
           freely
           declare
           ,
           
             That
             he
             thought
             the
             Church
             was
             under
             Gods
             Displeasure
             for
             her
             Severity
             to
             Dissenters
             ,
          
           and
           that
           thereupon
           the
           Bishop
           lamented
           that
           he
           ever
           had
           his
           Hand
           in
           that
           Work
           ,
           and
           declared
           ,
           that
           should
           he
           be
           restored
           to
           Power
           ,
           he
           would
           use
           it
           better
           than
           he
           had
           done
           :
           I
           wish
           all
           the
           Clergymen
           then
           present
           and
           throughout
           the
           Kingdom
           ,
           were
           so
           resolved
           ,
           and
           would
           shew
           themselves
           for
           Peace
           ,
           by
           throwing
           away
           their
           Weapons
           of
           War.
           
        
         
           2.
           
           I
           propose
           to
           the
           Consideration
           of
           Dissenters
           ,
           and
           that
           of
           every
           Denomination
           ,
           that
           as
           when
           a
           Town
           is
           on
           Fire
           every
           Man
           (
           without
           any
           great
           Regard
           to
           what
           Intimacy
           or
           Distance
           hath
           been
           amongst
           Neighbours
           )
           doth
           his
           best
           to
           extinguish
           the
           devouring
           Flames
           ,
           so
           that
           they
           would
           with
           unanimity
           joyn
           in
           this
           common
           Cause
           ,
           of
           removing
           ,
           and
           that
           for
           ever
           ,
           the
           undistinguishing
           Instruments
           of
           Mischief
           ,
           the
           
             Penal
             Statutes
          
           :
           They
           do
           equally
           extend
           to
           all
           ,
           and
           may
           by
           turns
           reach
           every
           Dissenter
           .
           Hath
           not
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           persisted
           to
           exercise
           her
           Severities
           upon
           all
           Dissenters
           within
           her
           reach
           ,
           even
           in
           the
           present
           Reign
           ?
           Are
           the
           
             Roman
             Catholicks
          
           (
           tho
           sheltered
           by
           the
           Kings
           Religion
           )
           willing
           to
           deliver
           other
           Dissenters
           with
           themselves
           from
           those
           destroying
           Laws
           ,
           and
           to
           secure
           them
           ,
           from
           what
           hath
           been
           of
           so
           terrifying
           an
           Aspect
           in
           
             Popery
             ,
             Persecution
          
           ?
           And
           will
           they
           refuse
           to
           be
           unshakled
           ?
           I
           cannot
           imagine
           they
           should
           ,
           especially
           when
           I
           observe
           amongst
           them
           such
           
             a
             universal
             Serenity
          
           since
           his
           Majesties
           Declaration
           .
           They
           owe
           their
           Ease
           to
           the
           Kings
           Princely
           Clemency
           ,
           he
           invites
           them
           out
           of
           Slavery
           ;
           if
           they
           will
           ,
           their
           Liberty
           may
           be
           established
           ;
           his
           Majesty
           is
           resolved
           to
           do
           that
           which
           the
           Church
           never
           would
           when
           she
           had
           Power
           ,
           nor
           can
           we
           think
           she
           would
           now
           ,
           if
           it
           be
           true
           that
           she
           accosts
           the
           King
           with
           heat
           against
           it
           :
           Let
           then
           all
           Dissenters
           see
           their
           common
           Interest
           ,
           to
           approach
           the
           King
           with
           Duty
           and
           Affection
           ,
           and
           to
           evidence
           their
           Affection
           ,
           by
           closing
           with
           the
           happy
           Opportunity
           which
           
           now
           offers
           ,
           of
           setting
           themselves
           free
           by
           Law
           ,
           seeing
           his
           Majesty
           calls
           them
           to
           it
           :
           But
           ,
        
         
           The
           Fanaticks
           are
           told
           by
           Church-Men
           ,
           That
           it
           is
           not
           now
           either
           
             seasonable
             or
             safe
          
           (
           I
           doubt
           in
           their
           Opinion
           it
           never
           will
           )
           and
           they
           promise
           that
           
             they
             will
             do
             the
             Work.
          
           Affliction
           is
           the
           best
           School
           ,
           and
           I
           do
           hope
           the
           Fanaticks
           have
           learn'd
           therein
           better
           ,
           than
           to
           be
           tampered
           withal
           ,
           and
           decoy'd
           into
           an
           Opposition
           to
           his
           Majesties
           so
           gracious
           Disposition
           :
           They
           know
           the
           King
           never
           broke
           his
           Word
           ,
           that
           the
           Church
           hath
           ,
           and
           that
           with
           them
           in
           this
           very
           Point
           of
           Indulgence
           .
        
         
           I
           appeal
           herein
           to
           the
           Memories
           of
           some
           Men
           of
           Note
           now
           living
           ,
           who
           were
           of
           so
           clear
           Credit
           ,
           and
           so
           great
           Reputation
           in
           the
           House
           of
           
             Commons
             (
             tho
             Dissenters
          
           )
           that
           without
           their
           Concurrence
           ,
           an
           Address
           had
           not
           been
           obtained
           for
           the
           recalling
           the
           late
           King's
           
             Declaration
             of
             Indulgence
          
           ,
           which
           for
           the
           time
           made
           the
           Kingdom
           happy
           ;
           it
           must
           be
           acknowledged
           by
           these
           honest
           well
           meaning
           Gentlemen
           ,
           that
           they
           were
           wheedled
           and
           cheated
           of
           that
           Indulgence
           ,
           by
           the
           fair
           
             Promises
             and
             Caeresses
          
           of
           some
           ,
           who
           are
           now
           also
           living
           ,
           and
           attempting
           to
           play
           that
           Game
           over
           again
           :
           I
           conclude
           therefore
           ,
           with
           difference
           to
           their
           Qualities
           ,
           that
           they
           are
           not
           to
           be
           again
           trusted
           .
        
         
           To
           provoke
           Dissenters
           to
           avoid
           the
           Rock
           ,
           and
           gain
           a
           safe
           Harbour
           ,
           I
           shall
           remind
           them
           (
           tho'
           I
           would
           not
           have
           it
           remembered
           for
           Vengeance
           ,
           but
           for
           Prevention
           sake
           )
           what
           and
           how
           they
           have
           suffered
           by
           the
           
             Penal
             Laws
          
           ,
           which
           some
           so
           highly
           struggle
           to
           keep
           up
           .
           How
           many
           Families
           have
           we
           seen
           ruined
           ,
           by
           the
           vexation
           of
           Citations
           ,
           and
           what
           quickly
           followed
           ,
           Excommunications
           ,
           in
           the
           Courts
           Ecclesiastick
           :
           The
           Lawyers
           say
           that
           Excommunication
           is
           a
           Disability
           to
           sue
           for
           Debts
           ,
           and
           many
           honest
           Men
           have
           found
           that
           wicked
           Advantage
           made
           thereof
           ;
           I
           know
           the
           Name
           of
           a
           Clergy-Man
           ,
           who
           to
           supply
           his
           Occasions
           ,
           borrowed
           Money
           of
           a
           Neighbour
           ,
           a
           Dissenter
           ,
           and
           to
           defraud
           him
           of
           the
           Money
           
             (
             instead
             of
             Payment
          
           )
           pleaded
           that
           his
           Creditor
           
             stood
             excommunicate
          
           :
           
           A
           more
           severe
           Step
           of
           those
           Courts
           was
           ,
           the
           burying
           the
           Dissenter
           alive
           in
           a
           Goal
           by
           a
           Writ
           
             de
             Excommunicato
             Capiendo
          
           ,
           from
           which
           there
           was
           no
           Redemption
           ,
           but
           at
           the
           Price
           of
           his
           Conscience
           .
           Indeed
           where
           Men
           had
           money
           ,
           and
           would
           farm
           their
           Liberty
           
             (
             not
             of
             Conscience
             but
          
           )
           from
           Prison
           ,
           I
           have
           seen
           the
           tender
           hearted
           Gentlemen
           of
           
             Doctors
             Commons
             (
             since
             the
             Death
             of
             his
             late
             Majesty
             )
          
           for
           Fifteen
           or
           Twenty
           Pound
           paid
           ,
           half
           yearly
           ,
           to
           respit
           the
           claping
           up
           of
           an
           industrious
           man
           ,
           and
           they
           have
           permitted
           him
           ,
           
             till
             the
             next
             Rent
             Day
          
           ,
           to
           work
           for
           his
           Family
           .
        
         
           That
           the
           Dissenters
           have
           been
           Tenants
           to
           
             under
             Sheriffs
             ,
             Clerks
             of
             the
             Peace
             ,
             Town
             Clerks
             ,
             Apparitors
             ,
             Bailiffs
             ,
          
           &c.
           
           Is
           too
           well
           known
           
           throughout
           the
           Kingdom
           ,
           the
           first
           came
           but
           twice
           a
           year
           ,
           the
           others
           
           quarterly
           or
           monthly
           .
           If
           these
           Devourers
           left
           any
           thing
           ,
           the
           Informer
           followed
           ,
           and
           very
           often
           swept
           all
           ,
           and
           sometimes
           stock'd
           a
           Justices
           House
           or
           Farm
           with
           Beds
           ,
           Horses
           ,
           Cowes
           ,
           or
           what
           else
           the
           Gentleman
           wanted
           ,
           and
           that
           at
           
             very
             reasonable
             Rates
          
           .
        
         
           Are
           there
           not
           also
           ,
           
             to
             make
             the
             Dissenter
             compleatly
             miserable
             ,
          
           Imprisoning
           ,
           Banishing
           ,
           murdering
           Laws
           ?
           To
           them
           ,
           what
           can
           the
           Invention
           of
           Cruelty
           it self
           add
           ?
           Have
           we
           not
           ,
           with
           regret
           beheld
           the
           Execution
           of
           these
           Laws
           ?
           It
           may
           possibly
           be
           said
           that
           none
           have
           been
           
             hanged
             for
             Nonconformity
          
           ,
           if
           so
           ,
           we
           may
           say
           ,
           thanks
           to
           
             the
             Kings
          
           Mercy
           ,
           for
           restraining
           the
           
             Churches
             foolish
             Rage
          
           ,
           but
           't
           is
           not
           a
           small
           number
           both
           of
           Ministers
           and
           others
           ,
           whose
           Lives
           have
           been
           destroyed
           by
           lingering
           pining
           Deaths
           in
           noisom
           
             Goals
             and
             Dungeons
          
           .
        
         
           Nay
           the
           rigorous
           Execution
           of
           these
           too
           rigid
           Laws
           ,
           did
           not
           suffice
           ,
           we
           have
           known
           many
           Informers
           swear
           by
           guess
           ,
           and
           very
           fasly
           ,
           and
           the
           Perjured
           protected
           and
           rewarded
           ,
           of
           which
           take
           an
           Instance
           :
           An
           
             Informer
             (
             by
             Trade
             a
             Tinker
             )
          
           having
           manifestly
           perjured
           himself
           in
           swearing
           against
           an
           honest
           Gentleman
           upon
           the
           Conventicle
           Act
           ,
           and
           being
           indicted
           for
           the
           Perjury
           ,
           the
           Prosecutor
           was
           hurried
           by
           the
           procurement
           of
           the
           
             Informers
             Patron
          
           ,
           into
           no
           less
           Prison
           than
           the
           Tower
           of
           London
           ,
           and
           there
           closely
           detain'd
           :
           The
           Villain
           was
           rewarded
           with
           a
           place
           worth
           Twenty
           Pound
           
             per
             Annum
          
           ,
           
           and
           still
           enjoys
           it
           .
           But
           why
           should
           I
           argue
           with
           Dissenters
           from
           particular
           Instances
           ,
           to
           make
           them
           out
           of
           Love
           with
           their
           Shackles
           ,
           when
           't
           is
           evident
           the
           whole
           Kingdom
           groans
           under
           ,
           and
           would
           gladly
           throw
           off
           the
           Burthen
           of
           these
           oppressive
           bloody
           Laws
           .
        
         
           I
           shall
           therefore
           take
           my
           Leave
           of
           the
           Dissenters
           with
           the
           Story
           of
           the
           Jews
           in
           good
           
           Nehemiah's
           time
           .
           He
           being
           informed
           of
           the
           very
           deplorable
           Case
           ,
           of
           those
           who
           were
           left
           of
           the
           Captivity
           ,
           made
           an
           Address
           to
           the
           King
           ,
           representing
           the
           sad
           State
           of
           Jerusalem
           ,
           and
           petitioned
           for
           Leave
           to
           rebuild
           it
           :
           The
           King
           (
           who
           was
           the
           great
           Artaxerxes
           )
           gave
           a
           gracious
           Answer
           ,
           and
           not
           only
           permitted
           it
           ,
           but
           contributed
           to
           the
           Work
           ;
           and
           
             Nehemiah
             (
             to
             the
             Grief
             of
             Courtiers
             )
          
           went
           cheerfully
           about
           it
           .
           Sanballat
           and
           Tobiah
           ,
           (
           men
           of
           great
           Power
           under
           the
           King
           )
           appeared
           grieved
           that
           there
           was
           come
           a
           man
           to
           seek
           the
           Welfare
           of
           Israel
           ;
           however
           Nehemiah
           invited
           the
           Jews
           to
           build
           the
           Wall
           ,
           and
           they
           came
           unanimously
           and
           cheerfully
           into
           the
           Work.
           
        
         
           Sanballat
           and
           Tobiah
           having
           drawn
           into
           their
           Faction
           ,
           Geshem
           an
           Arabian
           ,
           laughed
           the
           Jews
           to
           Scorn
           ,
           and
           termed
           the
           Work
           Rebellion
           against
           the
           King.
           Nehemiah
           ,
           knowing
           that
           God
           would
           prosper
           him
           ,
           
             (
             mangre
             Opposition
          
           )
           proceeded
           to
           build
           ,
           and
           all
           the
           People
           assisted
           ,
           but
           
             the
             Nobles
             contributed
             not
             to
             the
             Worke
             of
             the
             Lord
             ,
             but
             held
             Correspondance
             with
             the
             Enemy
          
           Tobiah
           ,
           
           and
           betrayed
           to
           him
           
           Nehemiah's
           Counsels
           .
        
         
         
           Sanballat
           and
           Tobiah
           ,
           that
           they
           might
           obstruct
           the
           Work
           ,
           resolved
           to
           fight
           the
           Jews
           :
           In
           this
           great
           Distress
           God
           fought
           for
           them
           ,
           and
           brought
           the
           Enemies
           Counsel
           to
           nought
           ,
           and
           the
           Jews
           made
           up
           the
           Breaches
           in
           the
           Wall
           :
           Then
           Sanballat
           and
           his
           Confederates
           ,
           betook
           themselves
           to
           Flattery
           and
           Dissimulation
           ,
           and
           invited
           Nehemiah
           again
           and
           again
           to
           a
           Conference
           ,
           but
           he
           declines
           the
           Invitation
           ,
           answering
           ,
           that
           he
           was
           doing
           a
           great
           Work
           ,
           and
           would
           not
           leave
           it
           .
           Thereupon
           
             Sanballat
             (
             still
             pretending
             Friendship
          
           )
           informed
           Nehemiah
           by
           Letter
           ,
           That
           the
           Heathen
           reported
           ,
           and
           Geshem
           said
           it
           ,
           that
           he
           and
           the
           Jews
           thought
           to
           rebel
           ,
           and
           to
           make
           Nehemiah
           King
           ,
           and
           that
           this
           would
           be
           told
           the
           
           King
           ,
           and
           therefore
           Sanballat
           offered
           to
           Counsel
           him
           how
           to
           obviate
           this
           heinous
           Charge
           .
           But
           
             Nehemiah
             (
             seeing
             the
             Snake
             in
             the
             Grass
             )
          
           refused
           to
           take
           Counsel
           of
           him
           ,
           and
           answered
           Sanballat
           ,
           that
           no
           such
           things
           were
           doing
           ,
           and
           that
           he
           feigned
           the
           Accusation
           out
           of
           his
           own
           Heart
           :
           Then
           these
           Men
           of
           Mischief
           ,
           hire
           
             false
             Prophets
          
           to
           Prophesy
           
           Nehemiah's
           Death
           ,
           in
           case
           he
           did
           not
           withdraw
           :
           This
           Plot
           also
           failed
           ;
           Nehemiah
           saying
           ,
           
             should
             such
             a
             Man
             as
             I
             flee
             :
          
           So
           persisting
           ,
           the
           Wall
           was
           finished
           ,
           to
           the
           Enemies
           Confusion
           ,
           who
           perceived
           at
           length
           ,
           that
           
             the
             Work
             was
             of
             God.
          
           
        
         
           I
           have
           made
           the
           History
           too
           long
           ,
           the
           Application
           shall
           be
           shorter
           .
           Has
           God
           put
           it
           into
           the
           King's
           Heart
           to
           pitty
           them
           ,
           who
           are
           left
           of
           the
           Captivity
           ,
           such
           whom
           
             Penal
             Laws
          
           have
           not
           destroyed
           ?
           Let
           us
           return
           
           due
           Thanks
           to
           God
           and
           the
           King.
           
        
         
           Are
           there
           Sanballats
           ,
           Tobiah's
           ,
           and
           Geshem's
           ,
           who
           vex
           themselves
           that
           there
           is
           come
           a
           Man
           to
           seek
           the
           Welfare
           of
           all
           his
           Israel
           ?
           Do
           they
           in
           Confederacy
           with
           the
           Arabians
           ,
           and
           false
           Prophets
           ,
           and
           with
           
           Tobiah's
           Correspondents
           undermine
           and
           discourage
           the
           great
           Work
           of
           delivering
           Conscience
           from
           the
           pernicious
           
             Penal
             Laws
          
           ?
           Let
           us
           with
           Heart
           and
           Hand
           unite
           therein
           ,
           and
           not
           be
           seduced
           by
           Flattery
           or
           Threats
           ,
           to
           leave
           this
           glorious
           Work
           half
           done
           :
           Do
           the
           Heathen
           report
           ,
           and
           Gesham
           say
           ,
           or
           doth
           false
           Sanballat
           so
           pretend
           ,
           that
           we
           are
           overturning
           the
           Government
           ,
           and
           introducing
           a
           Common-Wealth
           ?
           Let
           us
           deport
           our selves
           with
           such
           Duty
           and
           Affection
           to
           the
           King
           ,
           that
           his
           Majesty
           ,
           and
           his
           Successors
           
           also
           ,
           may
           tell
           Sanballat
           ,
           That
           no
           such
           things
           ,
           as
           he
           suggested
           ,
           were
           doing
           by
           the
           Kings
           
             peaceable
             dissenting
             Subjects
          
           ,
           but
           that
           the
           Accusation
           was
           
             a
             Fiction
             of
             his
             own
             wicked
             Brain
          
           ;
           and
           when
           this
           blessed
           Work
           shall
           be
           finished
           ,
           may
           the
           Enemies
           thereof
           be
           cast
           down
           in
           their
           own
           Eyes
           ,
           perceiving
           that
           this
           Work
           was
           wrought
           of
           our
           God
           ;
           I
           am
           ,
           what
           I
           always
           was
           ,
           and
           therefore
           most
           certainly
           ,
        
         
           Yours
        
         
           
           
             POSTS●●IPT
             .
          
           
             I
             would
             beseech
             the
             Church
             of
             E●●land
             to
             yield
             to
             Christ
             ,
             his
             own
             Throne
             in
             the
             Kingdom
             of
             God
             ,
             and
             to
             Magistrates
             their
             Thrones
             in
             the
             Kingdoms
             of
             the
             World
             ;
             the
             whole
             inward
             Man
             is
             under
             Christ's
             Power
             ,
             and
             the
             whole
             outward
             Man
             is
             under
             the
             Magistrates
             ;
             if
             so
             ,
             the
             inward
             and
             outward
             Man
             being
             disposed
             of
             before
             ,
             what
             room
             is
             there
             left
             for
             
               Ecclesiastical
               Power
            
             ?
             The
             Clergy
             indeed
             have
             long
             pretended
             to
             lift
             up
             the
             Magistrate
             to
             the
             Throne
             of
             Christ
             over
             Conscience
             ,
             not
             that
             they
             would
             have
             him
             sit
             there
             ,
             but
             place
             them
             upon
             it
             ,
             and
             we
             have
             seen
             the
             
               Power
               Ecclesiastick
            
             ,
             interweaving
             it self
             with
             the
             
               Power
               of
               Princes
            
             ,
             that
             their
             Power
             which
             was
             not
             of
             God
             ;
             might
             be
             supported
             by
             the
             Power
             which
             was
             
               of
               God
            
             :
             But
             it
             may
             be
             worth
             Consideration
             whether
             they
             do
             not
             exalt
             themselves
             in
             
               Christ's
               stead
               in
               the
               Church
            
             ,
             and
             set
             under
             their
             Feet
             the
             
               Magistrates
               Power
               in
               the
               World
            
             ;
             and
             whether
             they
             are
             Friends
             to
             Magistracy
             ,
             further
             than
             it
             is
             serviceable
             to
             their
             Ends
             ,
             who
             is
             it
             that
             discerns
             them
             not
             at
             this
             Day
             ,
             venting
             their
             Discontents
             against
             the
             King
             in
             
               Pamphlets
               and
               Discourses
            
             ,
             and
             in
             spreading
             very
             false
             
               News
               (
               in
               which
               ,
               with
               too
               great
               Boldness
               they
               take
               their
               full
               swing
               )
               and
               why
               ?
            
             Because
             he
             will
             not
             do
             all
             that
             they
             would
             have
             him
             do
             ,
             and
             restrains
             their
             Power
             in
             Religious
             Things
             .
             And
             when
             they
             mind
             his
             Majesty
             of
             the
             Services
             they
             have
             done
             him
             ,
             do
             they
             not
             do
             it
             ,
             in
             such
             a
             manner
             ,
             as
             hints
             what
             they
             can
             do
             
               against
               him
            
             ,
             as
             well
             as
             
               for
               him
            
             ,
             if
             he
             will
             not
             serve
             their
             Designs
             ?
             But
             these
             Gentlemen
             demand
             ,
             
               Would
               you
               have
               no
               Laws
            
             :
             Yes
             ,
             but
             no
             other
             in
             God's
             Kingdom
             ,
             but
             his
             own
             Laws
             ,
             those
             only
             being
             proper
             ,
             and
             adequate
             ,
             and
             therefore
             a
             Thousand
             times
             better
             than
             all
             the
             Laws
             of
             Men
             ,
             which
             never
             acquired
             any
             other
             sort
             of
             Proselytes
             ,
             than
             such
             as
             the
             
               young
               Man
            
             in
             the
             Story
             in
             
             Frithe's
             Answer
             to
             the
             Bishop
             of
             Rochester
             ;
             which
             is
             this
             ;
             A
             young
             Man
             having
             beheld
             his
             Fathers
             Martyrdom
             ;
             the
             Officers
             
               (
               laying
               hold
               of
               him
               ,
               and
               of
               that
               Opportunity
               to
               work
               his
               Conversion
               )
            
             examined
             him
             of
             his
             Faith
             ;
             the
             Youth
             dismay'd
             ,
             and
             fearing
             his
             Father's
             Fate
             ,
             answered
             ,
             
               Gentlemen
               ,
               I
               believe
               even
               as
               it
               pleaseth
               you
               .
            
             Our
             Church
             hath
             of
             late
             Years
             (
             by
             breathing
             out
             Threatnings
             ,
             Punishments
             ,
             Imprisonments
             ,
             &c.
             )
             made
             too
             many
             such
             Converts
             .
          
           
             Once
             more
             adieu
             .
          
        
      
    
     
       
         
           London
           ,
           Printed
           ,
           and
           sold
           ,
           by
           
             Andrew
             Sowle
          
           ,
           at
           the
           Crooked-Billet
           in
           Holloway-Lane
           in
           Shoreditch
           ,
           and
           at
           the
           
             Three
             Keys
          
           ,
           in
           
             Nags
             Head
             Court
          
           ,
           in
           Grace-Church-Street
           ,
           overagainst
           the
           
             Conduit
             ,
             1687.
          
           
        
      
       
         Notes, typically marginal, from the original text
         
           Notes for div A54101-e10
           
             ☜
             
          
           
             ☜
             
          
           
             ☞
             
          
           
             ☞
             
          
           
             ☜
             
          
           
             ☜
             
          
           
             ☜