







 
   
     
       
         A letter from a person of quality in the north to a friend in London, concerning Bishop Lake's late declaration of his dying in the belief of the doctrine of passive obedience as the distinguishing character of the Church of England
         Eyre, Elizabeth.
      
       
         
           1689
        
      
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             A letter from a person of quality in the north to a friend in London, concerning Bishop Lake's late declaration of his dying in the belief of the doctrine of passive obedience as the distinguishing character of the Church of England
             Eyre, Elizabeth.
          
           [2], 10 p.
           
             Printed for Awnsham Churchill ...,
             London :
             1689.
          
           
             Attributed to Elizabeth Eyre. Cf. Halkett & Laing (2nd ed.).
             "Licens'd Sept. 19th, 1689. J.F."
             Reproduction of original in Union Theological Seminary Library, New York.
          
        
      
    
     
       
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         eng
      
       
         
           Lake, John, 1624-1689.
           Church of England -- Doctrines.
           Obedience -- Religious aspects -- Christianity -- Early works to 1800.
        
      
    
     
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           A
           LETTER
           FROM
           
             A
             Person
             of
             Quality
          
           IN
           THE
           NORTH
           To
           a
           Friend
           in
           LONDON
           ,
           CONCERNING
           Bishop
           Lake's
           Late
           Declaration
           Of
           his
           Dying
           in
           the
           Belief
           of
           the
           Doctrine
           OF
           PASSIVE
           OBEDIENCE
           ,
           AS
           THE
           Distinguishing
           Character
           of
           the
           CHURCH
           of
           ENGLAND
           .
        
         
           
             
               
                 
                   Licens'd
                   
                     Sept.
                     19th
                     .
                     1689.
                     
                  
                
                 
                   
                     J.
                     F.
                     
                  
                
              
            
          
        
         
           LONDON
           ,
           Printed
           for
           
             Awnsham
             Churchill
          
           at
           the
           Black-Swan
           near
           Amen-Corner
           .
           1689.
           
        
      
    
     
       
         
         
           
           A
           LETTER
           FROM
           A
           
             Person
             of
             Quality
          
           .
        
         
           
             Dear
             Sir
             ,
          
        
         
           YOU
           may
           wonder
           ,
           that
           at
           this
           time
           of
           day
           I
           should
           begin
           to
           talk
           to
           you
           of
           Bishop
           
           Lake's
           Death
           ,
           for
           which
           I
           dare
           say
           both
           of
           us
           have
           before
           this
           ,
           paid
           our
           just
           Tribute
           of
           Sorrow
           ,
           and
           for
           whose
           Memory
           every
           
             True
             Protestant
          
           must
           have
           a
           very
           particular
           Respect
           ,
           so
           long
           as
           the
           Courage
           and
           Constancy
           of
           the
           
             Seven
             Bishops
          
           remains
           upon
           Record
           ;
           which
           I
           verily
           believe
           will
           be
           till
           time
           shall
           be
           no
           more
           :
           But
           some
           (
           as
           if
           this
           Glorious
           Action
           had
           not
           been
           enough
           to
           have
           secured
           his
           Fame
           to
           all
           Eternity
           )
           seem
           rather
           desirous
           to
           transmit
           him
           to
           Posterity
           by
           another
           Distinguishing
           Character
           ;
           that
           of
           the
           Great
           Champion
           for
           
             Passive
             Obedience
          
           ;
           thinking
           that
           to
           be
           a
           greater
           Honour
           than
           to
           be
           recorded
           for
           one
           of
           the
           great
           Maintainers
           and
           Assertors
           of
           the
           
             Protestant
             Religion
          
           ,
           and
           the
           
             English
             Liberties
          
           ;
           For
           there
           is
           a
           Paper
           sent
           abroad
           about
           our
           Country
           ,
           attested
           not
           only
           by
           his
           own
           Hand
           ,
           but
           also
           by
           several
           unquestionable
           Witnesses
           ,
           wherein
           the
           Good
           Bishop
           on
           his
           Death-Bed
           declares
           ,
           
             That
             he
             had
             been
             brought
             up
             in
             ,
             and
             had
             also
          
           
           
             taught
             others
             that
             great
             Doctrine
             of
          
           Passive
           Obedience
           ,
           
             which
             he
             always
             look't
             upon
             as
             the
             Distinguishing
             Character
             of
             the
             Church
             of
          
           England
           ,
           
             and
             that
             he
             would
             not
             have
             taken
             the
             Oath
             ,
             though
             the
             Penalty
             had
             been
             Loss
             of
             Life
             ;
             but
             found
             great
             Satisfaction
             and
             Consolation
             in
             his
             Mind
             because
             he
             had
             not
             taken
             it
             ;
             and
             these
             he
             desired
             might
             be
             look'd
             upon
             as
             the
             Words
             of
             a
             Dying
             Man
             ,
             and
             so
             represented
             to
             his
             Friends
             :
          
           But
           whether
           those
           Friends
           had
           not
           done
           him
           as
           good
           Service
           if
           they
           had
           kept
           it
           to
           themselves
           ,
           and
           not
           represented
           it
           to
           the
           World
           ,
           I
           think
           may
           be
           a
           Question
           :
           for
           I
           must
           confess
           't
           is
           a
           little
           unaccountable
           to
           me
           what
           Designs
           they
           could
           have
           in
           Publishing
           it
           :
           For
           't
           is
           so
           far
           from
           being
           necessary
           on
           the
           Bishop's
           account
           ,
           that
           't
           was
           really
           impertinent
           :
           For
           he
           that
           at
           that
           time
           was
           under
           ,
           and
           had
           submitted
           to
           a
           Suspension
           ,
           meerly
           upon
           his
           refusal
           of
           the
           Oaths
           ,
           had
           certainly
           given
           the
           World
           as
           convincing
           a
           Proof
           of
           his
           Opinion
           ,
           as
           if
           he
           had
           printed
           a
           Thousand
           Volumes
           about
           it
           :
           So
           that
           there
           was
           no
           more
           occasion
           (
           I
           think
           of
           making
           ,
           but
           I
           am
           sure
           )
           of
           Publishing
           such
           a
           Declaration
           ,
           than
           there
           is
           for
           my
           Lord
           Bishop
           of
           Cant.
           to
           Print
           Manifestoes
           ,
           to
           tell
           the
           People
           he
           is
           suspended
           on
           the
           same
           account
           .
           And
           since
           there
           was
           so
           very
           little
           Reason
           to
           do
           it
           on
           the
           Bishop's
           Score
           ,
           the
           Motives
           and
           Designs
           had
           need
           be
           very
           good
           that
           can
           justifie
           their
           doing
           it
           on
           their
           own
           .
           Had
           either
           they
           or
           the
           Bishop
           given
           us
           the
           Reasons
           of
           his
           adhering
           to
           that
           Opinion
           ,
           besides
           that
           of
           his
           being
           bred
           and
           born
           in
           it
           ,
           (
           an
           Argument
           that
           a
           Turk
           or
           Pagan
           may
           have
           for
           the
           Truth
           of
           their
           Religion
           )
           ,
           they
           might
           have
           obliged
           the
           World
           exceedingly
           ;
           but
           the
           only
           Motives
           at
           least
           that
           are
           to
           me
           apparent
           ,
           for
           telling
           us
           what
           we
           knew
           before
           ,
           I
           think
           might
           as
           well
           have
           been
           spared
           :
           for
           there
           are
           Two
           Inferences
           which
           may
           very
           easily
           be
           made
           from
           the
           
           Paper
           ,
           and
           which
           I
           suspect
           was
           the
           chief
           aim
           in
           publishing
           :
           The
           First
           is
           to
           insinuate
           ,
           that
           from
           the
           beginning
           of
           the
           Reformation
           ,
           ever
           since
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           was
           restored
           to
           its
           Purity
           ,
           
             Passive
             Obedience
          
           was
           the
           Corner-stone
           of
           it
           :
           for
           't
           is
           call'd
           ,
           
             The
             Distinguishing
             Character
             of
             the
             Church
             of
          
           England
           :
           so
           that
           it
           seems
           none
           was
           accounted
           her
           true
           Sons
           that
           did
           not
           hold
           it
           .
           Now
           if
           this
           be
           true
           ,
           here
           's
           the
           whole
           Body
           of
           the
           Clergy
           in
           Queen
           
           Elizabeth's
           days
           cut
           off
           from
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           at
           one
           blow
           ;
           for
           't
           is
           not
           the
           Opinion
           of
           one
           or
           two
           private
           Prelates
           ,
           but
           the
           whole
           Convocation
           ,
           who
           agree
           not
           only
           in
           giving
           the
           Queen
           so
           very
           large
           Subsidies
           ,
           but
           also
           in
           declaring
           the
           accounts
           on
           which
           they
           did
           it
           ;
           and
           that
           was
           assisting
           and
           protecting
           the
           Scotch
           and
           
             French
             Protestants
          
           ,
           and
           for
           abating
           all
           Hostilities
           against
           the
           true
           Professors
           of
           Gods
           holy
           Gospel
           ,
           and
           for
           the
           advancing
           the
           free
           profession
           of
           the
           Gospel
           within
           and
           without
           Her
           Majesties
           Dominions
           ;
           and
           a
           great
           deal
           more
           to
           this
           purpose
           ,
           as
           may
           be
           seen
           at
           large
           in
           the
           Preambles
           to
           the
           Three
           Subsidy
           Bills
           ,
           given
           the
           5
           th
           of
           Eliz.
           l.
           24.
           the
           35
           th
           of
           Eliz.
           c.
           12.
           and
           the
           43
           d
           of
           Eliz.
           c.
           17.
           
           So
           that
           't
           is
           apparent
           it
           was
           their
           practice
           for
           Forty
           years
           ,
           and
           I
           hope
           their
           Faith
           also
           :
           for
           I
           cannot
           be
           so
           uncharitable
           as
           to
           think
           they
           would
           sin
           against
           their
           Conscience
           ,
           and
           purchase
           Damnation
           at
           so
           dear
           a
           rate
           ,
           as
           those
           vast
           Sums
           they
           gave
           for
           the
           assistance
           of
           those
           that
           I
           am
           sure
           did
           resist
           their
           Kings
           ,
           and
           who
           according
           to
           the
           Doctrine
           of
           
             Passive
             Obedience
          
           ,
           ought
           to
           have
           been
           look'd
           upon
           ,
           and
           used
           as
           Rebels
           .
           And
           truly
           ,
           whatever
           is
           pretended
           ,
           their
           Doctrine
           was
           agreeable
           to
           their
           practice
           ;
           for
           altho
           the
           Book
           of
           Homilies
           hath
           been
           so
           often
           cited
           for
           the
           confirmation
           of
           this
           Doctrine
           ,
           yet
           the
           Example
           of
           David
           ,
           which
           is
           so
           much
           recommended
           to
           us
           in
           the
           2
           
             d
             Homily
          
           against
           Rebellion
           ,
           for
           his
           Loyalty
           and
           our
           imitation
           ,
           that
           is
           we
           desire
           to
           stand
           or
           fall
           by
           ;
           for
           if
           the
           Subject
           
           may
           be
           allow'd
           to
           take
           up
           (
           as
           we
           are
           sure
           David
           did
           against
           Saul
           )
           Defensive
           Arms
           ,
           I
           think
           they
           would
           be
           very
           unreasonable
           to
           desire
           any
           more
           .
           But
           this
           having
           been
           enlarged
           on
           by
           better
           Pens
           ,
           I
           shall
           say
           no
           more
           of
           it
           ;
           but
           cannot
           pass
           by
           the
           Epithet
           of
           the
           
             distinguishing
             Character
             of
             the
             Church
             of
          
           England
           ,
           without
           some
           Animadversions
           on
           it
           :
           And
           ,
           first
           ,
           I
           would
           ask
           you
           ,
           Sir
           ,
           whether
           you
           think
           it
           necessary
           for
           particular
           Churches
           to
           have
           particular
           distinguishing
           Doctrines
           ?
           For
           I
           must
           confess
           ,
           to
           me
           (
           but
           if
           I
           am
           in
           an
           Error
           I
           hope
           you
           will
           correct
           it
           )
           it
           appears
           so
           far
           from
           necessary
           ;
           that
           I
           think
           't
           is
           very
           inconvenient
           when
           particular
           Churches
           have
           such
           distinguishing
           Doctrines
           :
           for
           I
           believe
           it
           has
           been
           the
           occasion
           of
           all
           the
           Schisms
           in
           the
           World.
           For
           since
           ,
           as
           the
           Apostle
           saith
           ,
           Eph.
           4.
           5.
           there
           is
           but
           
             one
             Lord
             ,
             one
             Faith
             ,
             one
             Baptism
          
           ;
           and
           I
           may
           add
           ,
           
             one
             Church
             ,
             and
             one
             Truth
             .
          
           Why
           should
           we
           not
           (
           at
           least
           endeavour
           to
           )
           be
           all
           of
           one
           mind
           ,
           and
           not
           affect
           little
           distinctions
           ,
           which
           oftentimes
           create
           great
           Animosities
           ?
           of
           which
           our
           present
           Age
           can
           give
           too
           many
           sad
           instances
           .
           But
           alas
           ,
           the
           Disease
           did
           not
           begin
           ,
           neither
           will
           it
           ,
           I
           fear
           ,
           end
           with
           us
           ;
           for
           we
           find
           St.
           Paul
           reproving
           it
           in
           his
           Corinthians
           ,
           as
           that
           which
           occasioned
           all
           their
           Divisions
           ;
           while
           one
           cryed
           he
           was
           of
           Paul
           ,
           and
           another
           of
           Apollo
           ,
           and
           I
           of
           Cephas
           ,
           and
           I
           of
           Christ
           :
           So
           that
           it
           seems
           they
           did
           not
           only
           give
           their
           patticular
           Teachers
           the
           preference
           above
           others
           ,
           but
           also
           set
           them
           in
           opposition
           to
           Christ
           ;
           but
           to
           such
           I
           may
           ask
           the
           Apostles
           Question
           ,
           Who
           is
           Paul
           ,
           or
           who
           is
           Apollos
           ,
           but
           Ministers
           by
           whom
           you
           have
           believed
           ?
           But
           if
           Paul
           ,
           or
           an
           Angel
           Preach
           any
           other
           Gospel
           ,
           let
           him
           be
           Anathema
           ;
           and
           the
           same
           thing
           may
           ,
           and
           I
           think
           ought
           to
           be
           said
           of
           Churches
           ,
           when
           they
           impose
           any
           thing
           but
           what
           is
           the
           true
           Catholick
           Faith.
           Therefore
           to
           say
           such
           a
           Doctrine
           
           is
           particular
           to
           such
           a
           Church
           ,
           and
           that
           which
           distinguisheth
           it
           from
           the
           Catholick
           ,
           is
           indeed
           to
           say
           the
           worst
           thing
           in
           the
           World
           of
           it
           ;
           and
           to
           own
           that
           is
           not
           any
           part
           of
           the
           Catholick
           Faith.
           And
           why
           Bishop
           Lake
           ,
           or
           any
           body
           ,
           should
           value
           a
           Doctrine
           so
           much
           on
           that
           score
           ,
           is
           that
           I
           cannot
           comprehend
           .
           And
           in
           my
           Opinion
           ,
           it
           would
           more
           have
           become
           his
           Lordship
           ,
           if
           as
           the
           Office
           for
           the
           Sick
           directs
           ,
           he
           had
           made
           a
           Confession
           of
           the
           Christian
           Faith
           contain'd
           in
           the
           Apostles
           Creed
           ,
           which
           unquestionably
           he
           believ'd
           ;
           but
           it
           would
           satisfy
           us
           Lay-people
           very
           much
           ,
           if
           those
           Gentlemen
           who
           have
           attested
           this
           Recognition
           of
           his
           distinguishing
           Faith
           ,
           would
           Print
           another
           Paper
           ,
           to
           assure
           us
           that
           he
           rehearsed
           the
           Articles
           of
           our
           
             Common
             Creed
          
           ;
           that
           we
           may
           not
           be
           misled
           by
           the
           Example
           of
           a
           Bishop
           ,
           to
           depart
           from
           the
           Rules
           of
           the
           Church
           when
           we
           come
           to
           die
           ,
           and
           instead
           of
           the
           Cristian
           Faith
           ,
           declare
           we
           believe
           just
           quite
           contrary
           to
           his
           Distinguishing
           Faith
           ;
           that
           in
           some
           cases
           Resistance
           is
           lawful
           .
        
         
           But
           I
           fear
           I
           have
           already
           tired
           you
           by
           being
           so
           large
           on
           my
           First
           Inference
           ,
           therefore
           shall
           endeavour
           to
           be
           as
           short
           on
           the
           Second
           as
           I
           can
           ,
           and
           that
           I
           take
           to
           be
           this
           ;
           that
           from
           the
           Bishops
           declaring
           he
           would
           not
           have
           taken
           the
           Oath
           to
           have
           
             saved
             his
             Life
          
           ,
           and
           that
           his
           not
           taking
           it
           was
           the
           
             great
             Consolation
          
           he
           had
           at
           that
           time
           ,
           they
           would
           insinuate
           that
           the
           taking
           of
           the
           Oath
           is
           a
           very
           wicked
           unlawful
           thing
           :
           For
           they
           being
           the
           words
           of
           a
           dying
           Man
           just
           going
           to
           receive
           the
           Sacrament
           ,
           ought
           to
           be
           the
           more
           credited
           ,
           and
           to
           make
           the
           deeper
           impression
           ;
           for
           so
           good
           a
           Man
           as
           he
           could
           not
           be
           easily
           deceived
           himself
           ,
           and
           at
           such
           time
           't
           is
           certain
           did
           not
           design
           to
           deceive
           others
           .
           To
           which
           I
           shall
           crave
           leave
           to
           Reply
           ,
           First
           ,
           That
           as
           to
           the
           main
           
           Question
           of
           the
           Lawfulness
           of
           the
           Oath
           ,
           it
           has
           been
           so
           fully
           and
           so
           satisfactorily
           discussed
           already
           ,
           that
           I
           am
           very
           confident
           you
           and
           I
           know
           some
           that
           have
           taken
           it
           with
           as
           good
           a
           Conscience
           as
           Bishop
           Lake
           or
           any
           body
           could
           refuse
           it
           with
           ;
           therefore
           it
           would
           be
           superfluous
           to
           say
           any
           thing
           on
           that
           point
           :
           But
           only
           wish
           that
           instead
           of
           urging
           any
           humane
           Example
           ,
           both
           sides
           would
           remember
           the
           Divine
           Rule
           of
           St.
           Paul
           ,
           Rom.
           14.
           3.
           
           
             Let
             not
             him
             that
             eateth
             despise
             him
             that
             eateth
             not
             ;
             and
             let
             not
             him
             that
             eateth
             not
             judge
             him
             that
             eateth
             .
          
        
         
           But
           then
           ,
           Secondly
           ,
           as
           to
           the
           Authority
           that
           Bishop
           
           Lake's
           Dying
           Words
           ought
           to
           have
           over
           mine
           or
           any
           Mans
           judgment
           ,
           I
           must
           declare
           ,
           that
           till
           Infallibility
           be
           ,
           I
           will
           not
           say
           the
           distinguishing
           Character
           ,
           but
           the
           inseparable
           Attendant
           of
           a
           good
           Man
           ,
           I
           cannot
           say
           that
           they
           ought
           to
           influence
           any
           body
           any
           farther
           than
           they
           appear
           true
           and
           reasonable
           .
           For
           if
           dying
           Mens
           Sentiments
           were
           to
           be
           the
           Rule
           of
           our
           Faith
           ,
           we
           should
           have
           a
           very
           uncertain
           Standard
           .
           For
           you
           must
           know
           that
           once
           I
           was
           acquainted
           with
           a
           Papist
           ,
           that
           I
           think
           ,
           setting
           aside
           his
           Opinion
           ,
           was
           a
           very
           good
           Man
           ,
           for
           he
           led
           a
           good
           Life
           ;
           and
           when
           this
           Person
           came
           to
           die
           ,
           he
           did
           it
           with
           as
           great
           confidence
           ,
           and
           comfort
           too
           ,
           as
           could
           be
           imagined
           ;
           and
           express'd
           as
           great
           satisfaction
           in
           his
           not
           being
           a
           Protestant
           ,
           as
           the
           Bishop
           could
           in
           not
           taking
           the
           Oaths
           .
           So
           that
           we
           may
           see
           't
           is
           only
           the
           strong
           perswasion
           of
           the
           Party
           ,
           and
           not
           the
           truth
           of
           the
           Tenets
           ,
           that
           produces
           that
           sort
           of
           Consolation
           .
           For
           I
           am
           confident
           the
           Bishop
           himself
           would
           not
           have
           approved
           of
           the
           Argument
           ,
           had
           I
           turned
           Papist
           on
           that
           dying
           Mans
           declaration
           .
           But
           it
           seems
           some
           think
           it
           no
           great
           matter
           ▪
           what
           we
           turn
           now
           ;
           for
           I
           hear
           some
           are
           so
           exceeding
           fierce
           ,
           that
           they
           will
           hardly
           allow
           those
           
           which
           have
           taken
           the
           new
           Oathes
           to
           be
           so
           much
           as
           out-lyers
           of
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           ;
           but
           to
           be
           sure
           none
           must
           be
           within
           the
           Pail
           that
           have
           not
           the
           distinguishing
           character
           ;
           and
           truly
           the
           number
           of
           the
           enclosed
           will
           be
           so
           small
           ,
           that
           King
           James
           himself
           could
           hardly
           have
           hoped
           to
           have
           contracted
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           in
           so
           small
           a
           compass
           ;
           and
           may
           in
           part
           be
           said
           to
           have
           got
           his
           ends
           of
           us
           ,
           for
           I
           am
           sure
           he
           has
           done
           more
           mischief
           by
           the
           Divisions
           he
           has
           occasioned
           among
           our selves
           ,
           than
           he
           could
           have
           done
           by
           his
           Persecutions
           .
           But
           although
           some
           Persons
           indiscreet
           Zeal
           have
           made
           them
           so
           uncharitable
           ,
           I
           am
           as
           far
           from
           supposing
           it
           the
           temper
           of
           all
           the
           worthy
           Men
           of
           that
           Party
           ,
           as
           I
           am
           from
           believing
           the
           Doctrine
           of
           
             Passive
             Obedience
          
           in
           that
           unlimited
           sence
           it
           was
           Preached
           up
           by
           some
           ,
           was
           the
           universal
           Opinion
           of
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           in
           any
           Age.
           For
           that
           it
           was
           not
           so
           for
           Forty
           Years
           of
           Queen
           
           Elizabeth's
           Reign
           has
           been
           made
           pretty
           evident
           by
           matter
           of
           fact
           ;
           and
           that
           it
           is
           not
           so
           at
           this
           day
           ,
           I
           think
           may
           be
           demonstrated
           by
           the
           same
           way
           of
           Argumentation
           .
           For
           although
           I
           might
           have
           supposed
           it
           possible
           that
           a
           few
           particular
           private
           Persons
           might
           for
           interest
           sake
           have
           disclaimed
           their
           former
           Opinion
           ,
           and
           comply'd
           with
           any
           thing
           ;
           yet
           truly
           I
           have
           so
           much
           respect
           for
           the
           Clergy
           of
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           ,
           as
           not
           to
           believe
           that
           the
           whole
           Body
           of
           them
           could
           be
           guilty
           of
           so
           mean
           a
           thing
           ;
           to
           say
           no
           worse
           of
           it
           .
           For
           really
           the
           Dissenters
           ,
           in
           comparison
           ,
           are
           so
           few
           ,
           that
           had
           there
           not
           been
           some
           Names
           of
           note
           among
           them
           ,
           they
           would
           hardly
           have
           been
           reckoned
           a
           number
           ;
           which
           gives
           me
           great
           hopes
           that
           those
           great
           and
           good
           Men
           ,
           whom
           we
           look'd
           upon
           as
           the
           Pillars
           of
           our
           Church
           ,
           will
           not
           forsake
           the
           stations
           they
           so
           well
           became
           ,
           for
           the
           sake
           of
           a
           particular
           private
           Doctrine
           ,
           which
           was
           no
           way
           essential
           
           either
           to
           the
           being
           ,
           or
           well-being
           of
           the
           Church
           ▪
           but
           whose
           only
           use
           was
           to
           distinguish
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           from
           all
           the
           Churches
           in
           the
           World
           ,
           and
           that
           is
           really
           from
           the
           Catholick
           Church
           .
           For
           this
           Bishop
           Lake
           seems
           to
           me
           to
           own
           ,
           when
           he
           calls
           it
           the
           
             distinguishing
             Character
          
           of
           the
           Church
           of
           England
           ;
           and
           so
           truly
           it
           may
           still
           continue
           if
           they
           please
           ,
           for
           I
           believe
           there
           is
           no
           other
           Church
           so
           fond
           of
           it
           ,
           as
           to
           rob
           us
           of
           it
           ,
           if
           to
           be
           carried
           so
           high
           as
           some
           would
           have
           it
           .
           But
           if
           taken
           in
           its
           limited
           and
           true
           sence
           ,
           
             Passive
             Obedience
          
           must
           be
           acknowledged
           so
           necessary
           a
           Duty
           ,
           that
           the
           World
           could
           not
           well
           subsist
           without
           it
           .
           And
           I
           am
           very
           confident
           ,
           that
           all
           the
           difference
           about
           it
           has
           been
           occasioned
           by
           a
           little
           mistake
           ,
           in
           applying
           those
           Rules
           to
           Communities
           ,
           which
           were
           given
           to
           particular
           
             private
             Persons
          
           ,
           and
           only
           designed
           for
           such
           .
           For
           although
           in
           my
           single
           private
           capacity
           I
           ought
           to
           submit
           to
           ,
           and
           suffer
           the
           greatest
           injustice
           ,
           rather
           than
           disobey
           the
           lawful
           Magistrate
           ,
           and
           disturb
           the
           Government
           :
           Yet
           as
           I
           am
           an
           English
           Man
           ,
           I
           think
           I
           am
           as
           much
           obliged
           ,
           by
           all
           tyes
           both
           Civil
           and
           Sacred
           ,
           to
           defend
           and
           maintain
           that
           Government
           and
           Constitution
           of
           which
           I
           am
           a
           Member
           ,
           as
           I
           am
           to
           obey
           the
           King
           ;
           and
           that
           being
           the
           Primary
           Obligation
           ,
           ought
           to
           be
           discharged
           in
           the
           first
           place
           ;
           but
           the
           safety
           of
           that
           being
           secured
           ,
           Subjects
           ought
           to
           obey
           without
           any
           other
           reserve
           .
           And
           this
           seems
           to
           me
           so
           evident
           ,
           that
           I
           think
           it
           needs
           no
           further
           proof
           ,
           though
           't
           is
           capable
           of
           the
           clearest
           ,
           if
           it
           were
           necessary
           ,
           as
           I
           hope
           it
           is
           not
           ;
           for
           after
           all
           ,
           I
           am
           very
           confident
           that
           the
           greatest
           and
           best
           of
           our
           Dissenters
           are
           of
           my
           mind
           in
           this
           point
           ,
           as
           might
           very
           easily
           be
           proved
           ,
           if
           they
           would
           please
           but
           truly
           to
           resolve
           me
           one
           Question
           ;
           and
           that
           is
           ,
           Whether
           they
           did
           not
           both
           wish
           and
           pray
           ,
           that
           London-derry
           should
           
           be
           delivered
           out
           of
           the
           hands
           of
           those
           merciless
           Butchers
           ?
           and
           this
           the
           excellency
           of
           their
           temper
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           their
           Christianity
           ,
           obliging
           to
           ,
           I
           cannot
           at
           all
           question
           but
           they
           did
           ;
           nay
           ,
           I
           verily
           believe
           they
           would
           have
           gone
           further
           ,
           and
           assisted
           them
           with
           their
           Purses
           ,
           if
           they
           had
           known
           how
           to
           have
           conveyed
           them
           Relief
           .
        
         
           And
           now
           pray
           let
           us
           a
           little
           consider
           the
           Consequences
           of
           this
           ;
           for
           if
           the
           Doctrine
           is
           true
           ,
           
             That
             't
             is
             unlawful
             to
             take
             up
             Arms
             for
             the
             Defence
             of
             our
             Lives
             and
             Liberties
             ,
          
           then
           all
           those
           great
           and
           gallant
           Men
           were
           certainly
           great
           Rebels
           ,
           and
           whosoever
           did
           assist
           or
           abet
           them
           ,
           incurr'd
           the
           same
           guilt
           :
           so
           that
           for
           any
           thing
           I
           see
           ,
           we
           may
           all
           shake
           hands
           as
           to
           that
           matter
           .
           But
           in
           case
           I
           should
           be
           mistaken
           ,
           and
           they
           were
           not
           so
           good
           natur'd
           (
           as
           I
           do
           still
           believe
           they
           were
           )
           ,
           but
           did
           desire
           that
           so
           many
           thousand
           innocent
           persons
           might
           fall
           into
           the
           hands
           of
           their
           bloody
           implacable
           Enemies
           :
           If
           ,
           I
           say
           ,
           they
           could
           wish
           this
           ,
           it
           would
           give
           me
           a
           greater
           prejudice
           against
           the
           Doctrine
           than
           ever
           yet
           I
           had
           .
           Since
           it
           not
           only
           made
           them
           put
           off
           those
           Bowels
           of
           Mercies
           which
           Christians
           out
           to
           have
           for
           one
           another
           ,
           but
           even
           devested
           them
           of
           common
           Humanity
           .
           For
           unless
           it
           be
           the
           Papists
           ,
           I
           know
           no
           other
           Sect
           that
           is
           arrived
           to
           that
           height
           of
           Barbarity
           ,
           as
           to
           wish
           ,
           that
           so
           many
           thousand
           persons
           (
           who
           they
           never
           saw
           ,
           nor
           never
           did
           them
           any
           wrong
           )
           should
           perish
           ,
           only
           because
           they
           were
           not
           of
           their
           Opinion
           ;
           and
           if
           this
           could
           be
           their
           Temper
           ,
           I
           'm
           sure
           I
           would
           never
           be
           their
           Proselyte
           ;
           for
           I
           should
           dread
           it
           as
           much
           as
           Popery
           it self
           ;
           and
           so
           truly
           I
           believe
           those
           good
           men
           do
           .
           But
           I
           forget
           my self
           ,
           having
           already
           ,
           I
           fear
           ,
           exceeded
           the
           bounds
           of
           a
           Letter
           ,
           and
           trespass'd
           too
           much
           on
           your
           patience
           .
           But
           whatever
           the
           Effect
           may
           be
           ,
           I
           hope
           the
           Cause
           is
           pardonable
           ,
           because
           it
           proceeds
           
           from
           that
           intire
           Confidence
           I
           have
           both
           in
           your
           Judgment
           and
           Friendship
           ,
           that
           all
           my
           Notions
           must
           be
           approved
           by
           you
           ,
           before
           they
           can
           be
           so
           ,
           by
           ,
        
         
           
             Dear
             Sir
             ,
          
           
             Your
             most
             intirely
             affectionate
             Friend
             and
             Servant
             .
          
        
         
           FINIS
           .
        
      
    
     
  

