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AN ESSAY ON THE Hiſtory of Parties, AND PERSECUTION IN BRITAIN;

Beginning, With a brief Account of the Test-Act, and an Hiſtorical Enquiry into the Reaſons, the Original, and the Conſequen⯑ces of the Occaſional Conformity of Diſſenters.

With ſome Remarks on the ſeveral Attempts already made, and now making for an Occaſional Bill.

Enquiring how far the ſame may be eſteem'd a Preſervation to the Church, or an Injury to the Diſſenters.

LONDON: Printed for J. Baker at the Black-Boy in Paternoſter-Row. 1711. (Price 6 d.)

AN ESSAY, &c.

[3]

IN order to enquire Critically into the Reaſon and Juſtice, as well as Conſe⯑quences, of an Occaſional Bill, or an Act to prevent the Occaſional Conformity of Diſſenters, it ſeems neceſſary to ſtate as diſtinctly, and in a Method as unex⯑ceptionable as may be, the Nature and Original of the Thing call'd Occaſional Con⯑formity, and by what Steps the preſent Debates about it, have come upon the Stage.

That this may be done with as little Of⯑fence as poſſible, we ſhall deduce things in a brief Hiſtorical Narration from undoubted Teſtimony of Fact, recent to the Memory of moſt obſerving Men in this Age, and not to be contradicted by the falſe Gloſſes or Miſrepreſentations of any: And if by this it ſhould appear, that the following are undoubted Truths of unqueſtion'd Au⯑thority, [4] then all the Vehemence which ſome have uſed, in preſenting the ſeveral Acts againſt Occaſional Conformity, will appear ſo many Attempts, Whether knowingly or igno⯑rantly, is not to the Purpoſe, againſt the Conſtitution, and againſt the juſt Right of their Country; That is to ſay,

If upon an Impartial Enquiry into the Hiſtory of this Law, theſe things ſhould appear, then it may be worth our Conſi⯑deration, whether we ſhould ſtill purſue a thing ſo fatal to the General Good, and be for ever Sacrificing one another to the Re⯑ſentment of Parties, robbing each other of the Peace, Liberty, and Birthright of Eng⯑liſh-men, under the Forms, but contrary to the true Intent and Meaning of the Law.

From this ſhort Introduction, and in or⯑der to lay theſe Things more plainly before us, That Engliſh Proteſtants may ſee what they are doing, and may not ſacrifice one another to the Intereſts of the Enemies of both; We proceed to ranſack from the Beginning, the Records of theſe Things, that the Truth being brought forth into a clear Light, and viewed with open unblind⯑ed Eyes, the preſent Generation may have none to blame but themſelves, if they pull down the Liberties and Religion of their Anceſtors with their own Hands.

After the Reſtoration of King Charles II. had been for ſome Years perfected, and the Court as well as the Kingdom was gotten [6] over their firſt Tranſports, enjoy'd a full Dominion over the Puritan-Party, as they call'd them, and had for two or three Years ſuppreſſed the Remains of them by ſevere Proſecutions of Diſſenters, ſuppreſſing Con⯑venticles, Fining, Impriſoning, and Con⯑fiſcating the Hearers, and Baniſhing, as by the Corporation-Act, their Miniſters or Preachers Five Miles from every conſi⯑derable Town, and the like; the Nobility and Gentry of England began to ſee, that while their Eyes had been taken up with purſuing theſe leſſer Evils of Schiſm in Re⯑ligion among Proteſtants, they had, as the Conſequence of ſuch Proceedings generally proves, inſenſibly ſuffered the ſecret En⯑croachments of Rome and of France, and opened a Door to Popery and Tyranny.

It would be too tedious a thing to un⯑dertake here, what all our Hiſtories are full of, viz. To give an Account by what in⯑ſenſible Degrees the King (influenc'd by the Council of his Brother a declared Papist, and by his own Reſolutions, himſelf as ap⯑pear'd at his Death, being ſecretly a Papist, an Account whereof ſhall in theſe Tracts be at large made Publick) ſuffer'd himſelf and all his Councils to be acted and managed by the Artifice of France, and being him⯑ſelf a Penſioner to the King of France, brought his whole Kingdom to be paſſively [7] ſubſervient, and actively aſſiſtant to the Ri⯑ſing Exorbitance of that Prince, whoſe Power ſo aſſiſted, has ſince grown too great for all Europe, and has coſt this ſame Nati⯑on, whoſe Blood and Valour aſſiſted them, to riſe ſo much Blood and Treaſure ſince to reduce.

At length, tho' late, the People of En⯑gland took the Alarm, when in the Year 1672, the King of France made that dread⯑ful Eruption into Holland, attacking the Dutch with three formidable Armies at once, without any Provocation, any Satisfaction demanded, or Cauſe aſſign'd, ſave that he was ill ſatisfied in them.

At the firſt of this War we wretchedly aſſiſted France, not only by Land, but de⯑clared War againſt the Dutch, and fell up⯑on them by Sea, in a manner too diſhonou⯑rable for an Engliſhman to ſay much of, viz. falling upon their Smyrna Fleet, while in full Peace they might be ſuppoſed to come ſecurely into our Channel, if not into our very Harbours. The reſt we chooſe to co⯑ver with a Hand of Charity, rather than expoſe the Nakedneſs of thoſe Times, more than the Neceſſity of the preſent Argument obliges us to.

The Succeſſes of France againſt the Dutch reduc'd the States to the Brink of Ruine, and Naerden being taken by the Duke of [8] Luxemburgh, it was expected, that Amſter⯑dam, which was but 12 Miles off, would have ſent Deputies to make their Submiſſion to France. But in this Interim the Maſſacre of the de Witts, and the Ruine of the Barna⯑velt Faction intervening, the Prince of O⯑range, afterwards King William of Glorious Memory, a Prince born for the Reſcuing oppreſs'd Nations, and for a Refuge to the Proteſtant Religion, was reſtor'd to the Ad⯑miniſtration of the Affairs in Holland, revi⯑ved the Courage of the deſponding People, and in a little time drove the French as faſt out of the Country, as they came in.

Theſe things, and the Progreſs of the French in Flanders, alarm'd England, as we hinted above, and put us upon Enquiring into our State at Home; Endeavours were us'd to bring England over, and the Pulſe of the People in Parliament beat ſo high againſt France, that the Court was oblig'd to make a ſhew of Changing Sides; Peace was made with the Dutch, an Offer of Marriage of the Princeſs Mary, afterwards Queen Mary, to the Prince of Orange, and ſeveral meaſures taken, which look'd like a War with France, tho' nothing leſs intended.

An Army was rais'd, Three Millions ſe⯑ven hundred thouſand Pounds given by Par⯑liament for the Carrying it on; but ſuch hold had the Popiſh and French Councils [9] gotten in the Engliſh Court, that all the Means which were poſſible to be uſed could never get the King to Declare War, but at laſt ended all in the Treaty of Nime⯑guen, a Peace wholly to the Advantage of France.

During theſe Tranſactions, the Patriots of the Proteſtant Intereſt in this Nation, finding the Influence which French and Popiſh Emiſſaries had on the King, and finding the Popiſh Lords in the Houſe always vigo⯑rous to oppoſe every thing which was for the advancing the new Meaſures, they ap⯑ply'd themſelves to ſeveral Methods, in order to weaken the Popiſh Party. They could not yet obtain an Act to prevent the Popiſh Lords Sitting in the Houſe, but the preſent Caſe was to prevent Popiſh Officers in the Army; who were ſo many, and be⯑haved ſo Inſolently, that the Army then raiſed and incamp'd at Black-Heath, under a Pretence of the War with France, was become a Terror to the People, and was called the Cut-throat Army.

The Earl of Shaftsbury, who till then had been one of the Five Capital Letters, which formed the Word CABAL, was the Man who contriv'd and brought in the Propoſal for a Bill to diſpoſſeſs theſe Popiſh Officers: And the Title of the Act expreſ⯑ſed the Meaning and Deſign of its being [10] brought in. The King, the Court, and all the Popiſh and French Intereſt, oppoſed it with all their Might; but the Popular Terror, and the juſt Fear the People were in of a Popiſh Army, prevailed, and it paſs'd by a great Majority; neither did the King think fit to oppoſe himſelf to the Stream of the whole Nation at that time, eſpecially there being a great Money-Bill then de⯑pending in the Houſe, for no leſs than 1238750l. which would have been loſt. So the Bill paſs'd, 25 Carol. 2. and is Inti⯑tled, An Act for preventing Dangers which may ariſe from Popiſh Recuſants.

This is the Famous Teſt-Act; and that the true Intent and Meaning of this Act, and the Reaſon of its making, may more plainly appear, the Preamble to the Act is thus; For Preventing Dangers which may happen from Popiſh Recuſants, and for quieting the Minds of His Majeſties good Subjects; The Ʋneaſi⯑neſs of His Majeſties good Subjects, was at that time manifeſt to be their Fears of the Army and Court being put into the Hands of Papiſts; and the People who puſh'd on the Act, were thoſe very People, who eſ⯑pouſing Liberty and Property, obtain'd in Contempt from the Court-Party the Name of Whiggs.

[11] But further to explain this Matter, the Court, which with all poſſible Management and Art oppoſed this Law, endeavour'd to alarm the Diſſenters with their Danger from this Act; and Alderman LOVE, Re⯑preſentative for the City of London, a Man of unſpotted Integrity, was privately ſpo⯑ken to, that he might oppoſe it on behalf of the Diſſenters: This at firſt had ſome Effect on the People; but Mr. Love ſeeing into the Deſign avoided it, and would not meddle; on the other hand, the Perſons who brought in the Bill, aſſured the Diſ⯑ſenters, there was no Deſign to offer them any Diſturbance, and that if they deſired it, they would bring in another Bill after⯑wards, to exempt them from the Penalties of the ſaid Act, repreſenting to them at the ſame time, That if they ſtruck in to oppoſe this Act, the Bill againſt Popery would be loſt, and both they and the Church of England ſhould fall together, under the growing Miſchiefs ariſing from the Power of Papiſts in the Court.

The Diſſenters, prevailed upon with theſe Arguments, and eſpecially depending upon the Promiſes of the Church-men, (Unhappy Credulity!) that the Act had no View towards them, and ſhould in no wiſe be turned upon them, acquieſc'd, and to ſave the Church of England, ſacrific'd themſelves [12] and their Poſterity, to the Ingratitude of thoſe that propoſed it to them. Juſt thus the Diſſenters in Ireland ſuffered themſelves to be prevailed upon in the ſame Caſe, rather than to loſe that happy Bill laſt paſt there to prevent the Growth of Popery; into the middle of which, a certain Noble Perſon then in the Miniſtry, and lately become a Convert to a Principle perfectly new to what he formerly profeſt, thruſt into the middle of that Act, thereby to throw out all the Faithful Subjects of the Government, who ſpent their Eſtates, and ſome of their Blood in the Defence of London-Derry, a⯑gainſt the Popiſh Army of King James, from being truſted with the Magiſtracy of the City they defended.

In this manner, and on this Occaſion, and no other, this Act was paſſed, which is now become ſo much the Favourite of a Party, as to be thought the great Defence of the Church of England; how and by what Degrees it became ſo, may not be improper to enquire.

It was ſome Years after the firſt paſſing of this Act, 'ere the Effects of it on the Diſſenters were much taken notice of; and during the firſt 10 Years afterwards, the Capitulation of thoſe Perſons who brought it in was pretty well obſerved: And tho' ſeveral Perſecutions happen'd in that time [13] upon the Diſſenters, by Virtue of other Penal Laws which were turned againſt them, yet this Part of the Law was not much inſiſted on till about the Year 82, and 83, when the Popiſh Plot being turn'd into Ridicule, and ſeveral Plots trumped up upon the Diſſenters, partly to turn the Odium of that Plot upon them, and part⯑ly to ſuppreſs them as a Party joyning with the Whigs, eſpecially when the Court undertook the modelling of Corporations, and brought Writs of Quo-Warranto againſt the Charters of Towns: Then this Law was turned full-but upon the Diſſenters, and with all imaginable Eagerneſs inſiſted upon, even ſo much as to the Common-Council Men of the City of London; nay, they be⯑gan to talk, or offer at, allowing no Citi⯑zens to Vote for Common-Council Men or Aldermen, but ſuch as had taken the Sacrament; and to run it to all poſſible Ex⯑tremities, they went this Length, That no Man ſhould be allow'd a Licenſe to keep an Ale-Houſe, unleſs he had taken the Sa⯑crament of the Church; and ſeveral ſad Stories are left upon Record, of Perſons falling into Deſpair, Melancholy and Madneſs, for having acted againſt their Conſciences in that Caſe; till at laſt it was ſaid, a poor profligate Wretch found out an Expedient for it, and finding a Prieſt with as little Religion as himſelf, [14] communicated with him, profeſſing to take it as no Religious Act, for that he owned he was not fit to do it; acknowledging him⯑ſelf a Scandalous Sinner, but that being forced to do it, or loſe his Licenſe, which was his Livelyhood, he took it as common Bread and Wine, &c. There are other Scandalous Inſtances of the Severity of thoſe Times, which we omit, being not willing to aggravate the Grief of thoſe things.

By the publick Management of theſe Times, this Act was thus brought on the Stage, as if made on purpoſe for the Diſſen⯑ters, while at the ſame time the Papiſts, a⯑gainſt whom it had really been made, were upon every Occaſion forborn, conniv'd at, and overlook'd; and all Attempts to proſe⯑cute the Law againſt them diſcourag'd and diſcountenanc'd.

This continued during the whole Reign of King Charles II. and in King James's Reign, till the Defeat of the Duke of Mon⯑mouth, when the King in his Speech to the Parliament, fairly told the Houſe, He could not want the Service of the Gentlemen of his own Religion, and openly Diſpenſing with this Law in the Papiſts, cajol'd the Diſſenters with their ſhare of the Liberty.

[15] Some of the Diſſenters, it muſt be al⯑lowed, were ſo far partial to their own Eaſe, as not to conſider that it was given them at the Expence of the Conſtitution, and that their enjoying the Relaxation of Penal Sta⯑tutes by the Breath of the King, was a ſtopping their Mouths againſt the open Breaches of the Law, and effectually taking from them any Argument they might uſe againſt the Diſpenſing Power, or the pulling down all the Fortifications of our Laws againſt Popery, and Arbitrary Govern⯑ment.

But their Eyes were ſoon open'd, and they ſaw the Miſtake time enough to joyn heartily with the Church of England, in reſtoring the Liberties of their Coun⯑try, and overthrowing the projected Eſta⯑bliſhment of Popery; and then followed the Revolution.

During the whole Reign of King William, the Teſt-Act ſlept in its Native Circum⯑ſtance, its firſt Deſign in keeping Papiſts out of Publick Employment, out of Par⯑liament, Army, and Civil Liſt, was effectu⯑ally anſwer'd: But the corrupt turning the Edge upon the Diſſenters was diſcoun⯑tenanc'd, as what was not only not the Intereſt of the Nation, but as what was not the true Reaſon or Intent and Meaning of the Bill. The King, who had a native [16] Averſion to all Religious Coercion, had alſo the leſs Inclination to puſh the Se⯑verity of this Law upon the Diſſenters, becauſe he knew in the Original Making that Law, it was not in the View either of the People, or of the Sovereign, to give them the leaſt Diſturbance on that Account.

Yet here the Diſſenters committed ano⯑ther Error; for as if they were eaſier in their Compliance, in that they were not at all compell'd, they voluntarily comply'd with the Law, tho' they were ſure no Man would meet with Encouragement in proſe⯑cuting them for the Omiſſion; nor do we find in all this time any Proſecution com⯑menced againſt any Proteſtant Diſſenter, for taking or executing any Office or Place, whether Civil or Military, without taking the Sacrament.

This obtain'd the Name of Occaſional Conformity; but the Freedom with which the Diſſenters qualified themſelves, at their entring into ſuch Offices, tho' there ſeem'd no Danger in the Omiſſion, gave Offence; firſt to their own Friends, eſpecially among thoſe, who having a more ſtrict regard to their Principles, look'd upon it as an Incon⯑ſiſtency with their profeſſed Diſſent from the Church, who complained openly, that ſuch who could on meer Occaſion of Pre⯑ferment, and to ſhun a Penalty Conform, [17] ought not to be receiv'd again into the Communion of particular Congregations, but as Penitents.

There were many who took up the Wea⯑pons againſt this Objection, and thought to maſter it with Arguments drawn from General Charity: But however they might prove the Legality of a Communion of Charity with all Orthodox Chriſtians; or a General Communion with the whole Chriſtian Church; yet it is moſt certain, no full Anſwer could be given to that Part of Occaſional Conformity which was ſubmitted to by Perſons otherwiſe Diſſenting from the Church, meerly to quality for Preferment and Places in the Government, which was the Sum of the Diſpute at that time.

This Argument therefore being directly againſt them, became exceeding Popular, and eſpecially it appear'd a little new to find the Diſſenters themſelves vigorouſly Diſ⯑puting for Conformity to that very Church which they ſtatedly ſeparated from.

No ſooner was Her preſent Majeſty come to the Crown, but the Enemies of the Toleration, having as they thought, an opportunity to op⯑preſs the Diſſenters, began here; They found nothing ſo proper to render them hated and odious to the People, as the Charge of Hypocriſy, and therefore immediately [18] took hold of this, as an Advantage which offered againſt the Diſſenters, and that would make their Proceeding againſt them popular and ſpecious: And this in⯑troduced the firſt Occaſional Bill.

Now as all Extreams in the unhappy Divi⯑ſions of this Nation, have been fatal to the common Liberty of the whole, as well as to the Parties themſelves, who run unadviſedly into them: So here, as the Occcaſional Confor- of thoſe Diſſenters in general, who run to the Sacrament in that prophane manner, meerly for a Qualification, grew ſcanda⯑lous and hateful, even to their own Bre⯑thren, whoſe Conſciences were more ſtrictly obey'd; ſo the abſolute reſtraining the Liber⯑ty of Occaſional Conforming, in all that ſhould enjoy any Publick Employment, tying them up from ever Communicating, or ſo much as hearing a Sermon in a Diſ⯑ſenting Meeting, or indeed in any Foreign Proteſtant Church, on Pain of loſing their Employments and Livelyhood; this always carry'd with it ſuch an Air of Cruelty, ſuch an Invaſion of Native-Right, ſuch an Oppreſſion of Conſcience, ſuch a viſible In⯑conſiſtency with the Toleration, and ſuch a Degree of Perſecution, that all the mode⯑rate Part, even of the Church of England it ſelf, oppoſed it.

[19] How it was firſt introduced and paſs'd the Houſe of Commons; how it was ſent up to the Lords for their Concurrence; how the Lords return'd it but with one Amend⯑ment, relating to ſome Circumſtances not eſſential to the Bill, and which the Commons would gladly have quitted in their ſubſequent Attempts; and yet how the Commons adhering to their firſt Bill, and the Lords inſiſting on their Amendment, that Bill was loſt: How the next Seſſion, a ſecond Bill was brought in, and ſent up to the Lords, but the Temper of Perſecution having loſt Ground, was thrown out by the Peers by a great Majority: And laſtly, how a third Bill was brought into the Houſe of Commons, and loſt in their own Houſe by the Attempt to Tack it to another Bill; and how that Tacking Project not only threw out the Bill, but even overthrew the Party, that had been all along ſo forward to promote it: Theſe are Things ſo well known to every Man that has any Con⯑cern upon him for the Publick, and the Particulars have been made ſo public, that we need do no more, than refer the in⯑quiring Readers to the Papers which have been already publiſhed on that Occa⯑ſion.

[20] When after this by the late Court-Revo⯑lution in England, a new Turn was given to all our Civil Affairs, and new Faces ap⯑pear'd in the Management; as the Warmth of the High Church Party appear'd in ſe⯑veral Extravagancies ſo unbounded, as we had Reaſon to apprehend, that they could be deny'd nothing, and knew they would ſtick at nothing to raiſe their New Party and effectually cruſh the Old, ſo it was expected this old Affair ſhould be re⯑vived.

When we ſay expected, 'tis needful to add that it was expected by every Party: The High Party expected it; they ſaid one to another, That now was the happy Moment, when it was in their Power entirely, not to eſtabliſh the Church only, but ſo effectually to cruſh the Intereſt of the Diſſenters, as to render it impoſſible for them ever to riſe again, at leaſt ſo as to make themſelves formidable to the Church.

We might add here what that Party pro⯑miſed themſelves from the Reſtoration of their Friends, the Elections having gone generally in their favour; how they reduc'd the Toleration to ſuch a Pitch, that they would no more have it allow'd to be a To⯑leration, but an Exemption from the Pe⯑nalty of certain Laws; how the Academies [21] and Schools of the Diſſenters were threaten⯑ed, and Proſecutions againſt ſome of them actually begun; and how in all Places, they began to threaten the Diſſenters with ſhut⯑ting up their Meeting-Houſes, and in many Places, rabbl'd, pull'd down, and burnt their Meeting-Houſes; but this may be re⯑ferr'd to a more proper Place; this may, we hope, ſufficiently prove, That the Friends of that Party made no queſtion, but that an Occaſional Bill ſhould be immediately brought in.

The Diſſenters teſtify'd early their juſt Apprehenſions, when in the Hurry of this Change at Court, and the coming in of a New Party like a Flood; the Inſults in their Perſons, the Injuries in their Houſes and Meetings, the Abuſive Railing Pam⯑phlets, and the Tumultuous carrying of all kinds of Elections, againſt common Rules of Modeſty and Decency, as well as Right, made it Rational to them to think, that no⯑thing could be ſo ſevere, but what they had Reaſon to expect; and therefore that an Occaſional Bill ſhould be Introduc'd in⯑to the next Parliament, to the Ruin of their Liberty, was one of the leaſt Things which they thought it was Reaſonable to fear.

Even thoſe Gentlemen, who tho' willing for other Reaſons, to join in the Changes at Court, were yet of more Moderate Prin⯑ciples, [22] that were willing to have the late Miniſtry depos'd, and admitted the New Miniſtry, as a Means to ſuch other Ends as they had in View, whether reſpecting this or that View, yet unconcern'd with any Religious Proſpects; Theſe, tho' they did not approve of the Occaſional Bill, as what they imagin'd needleſs to the Church, and tending to encreaſe the Ʋneaſineſſes of the People, which they having ſettled the New Management of Civil Affairs, deſir'd to bring to ſome ſettled Condition; yet it is plain, expected the Occaſional Bill to be puſh'd at the laſt Seſſion, and as they ex⯑pected it, ſo they apply'd themſelves to pre⯑vent it, and, as by the Conſequence appear'd, did prevent it.

It will be needleſs to bring the Com⯑plaints of the Hot Men againſt theſe laſt; for their fatal Moderation, as they call it, is an Evidence, that theſe Men of Moderation did effectually ſtop the Current of that Zeal, or Heat, call it what you pleaſe, which would have put forward ſuch a Bill: 'Tis enough, that the Houſe of Commons go⯑verning themſelves by Moderate Councils, contrary to all the Expectations, Hopes, or Fears, as above, offer'd nothing to the Pre⯑judice of the Diſſenters, abridg'd none of their Liberties, nor encourag'd any of the Heats without Doors, which would have [23] puſh'd at the Diſſenters; and the Seſſion paſs'd over, with a Calmneſs, as exceeding⯑ly Mortifying to the Enemies of Peace, as perhaps Surprizing to thoſe who had been under Apprehenſions of other Uſage, as a⯑bove.

By this happy Conduct, the Diſſenters be⯑gan to take Courage, Re-builded their De⯑moliſh'd Meeting-Houſes, and promis'd to themſelves, that as Her Majeſty had paſs'd Her Royal Word, to preſerve Inviolable their Privileges and Religious Liberty, they ſhould enjoy the ſame, notwithſtanding the former Fears, without any farther Interrup⯑tion.

When on a ſuddain, from a Quarter whence they expected nothing of that kind; and from Hands, which they well hop'd would, as they formerly had been, held up in their Favour, the Storm ſeems to be Riſen, by what ever Influence, and with what e⯑ver Deſign rais'd, is not for us to Enquire yet, but we ſhall adjourn it with the Words of the Apoſtle, We have many Things to ſay, but you cannot bear them now.

We are now come to that unhappy Time, That Criſis, when we ſee the Diſ⯑ſenters given up by their Beloved Patriots, Attack'd by thoſe, who they juſtly plac'd their Confidence in, as the People from whom they expected Protection; and as a⯑nother [24] Author writes, ſacrifiz'd to the Par⯑ty-Intereſt of thoſe, who pretended former⯑ly to eſpouſe them.

This, we ſay, with Reſpect to thoſe Peo⯑ple, who to Congratulate the New Converts that come over to a Party, are pleas'd to ſee themſelves ruin'd, and the Liberties of their Poſterity taken away, in Matters both Ci⯑vil and Conſciencious, in order to form a Secular Intereſt, and ſupport their Proſpects relating to Power, Management, and Ad⯑miniſtration: We are ſpeaking now of Peo⯑ple without Doors, for of the Parliament and Proceedings within Doors, we may not now diſcourſe.

But above all, it ſeems Aſtoniſhing to Unbyaſs'd Judgments, to find even the Diſ⯑ſenters themſelves leſs Allarm'd at their ap⯑proaching Bondage, than they us'd to be; willing to pleaſe themſelves with Hopes, that the Hands that this comes from, cannot be ſuppos'd to hurt them; willing to amuſe themſelves with the Rumour, that the Bill now depending, is differing from the for⯑mer, and leſs ſevere; that it is qualified with ſome Circumſtances which makes them a⯑mends; that it includes a farther Security to the Tolleration, and the like.

Alas poor People! When are ye to open your Eyes? When will Heaven be pleas'd to reſtore you to your Underſtanding? [25] What are you doing? If the preſent Bill is Qualified with ſome Clauſes for your better liking it; if the bitter Pill is cover'd with a thin Leaf of glittering Metal; if there are not all the ſevere Things which you were formerly Attack'd with in this; Do you de⯑rive Comfort from this? Or ought you not the rather to ſee the certainty of what is to come, and that your Bondage is made ſure to you, by the Earneſt-Peny given you in the Beginning?

The preſent Parliament are, perhaps, diſ⯑pos'd to gentle Methods, and backward to bring upon you the Weight you were for⯑merly Threatned with, and you are pleas'd with the Negative of your Miſeries, and Thankful that it is no worſe.

But have you look'd at the Formidable Power of your Enemies without Doors? Have you Enquir'd into their New Mea⯑ſures? How having, as before, miſcar⯑ried in their Attempts on you, by the Raſh puſhing all at once upon the whole of your Deſtruction, they now ſee their Mi⯑ſtake, and are acting wiſely with you; Go to, let us deal wiſely with them, was the Anci⯑ent Method of God's Enemies; and what is this Wiſdom, but a gradual Encroach⯑ment upon you; and gaining by little and little, what they would find leſs likely to prevail in, if offer'd at once?

[26] Fatal is their Policy, to wheedle you in! they take hold of your Party Animoſities, and ſend over their Huſhai's to Counterfeit a Revolt to you, and to bring in your Eaſie and Impolitick Leaders, into Meaſures with them, at your Coſt; forming a Party to carry on Temporal Intereſt, at the Ex⯑pence of your Religious Liberties; and thus you are drawn in by the Spies and Cheats of a Party, to be Agents in your own De⯑ſtruction.

Poor unhappy blinded People! Supinely ſitting down pleas'd with the Ruin of your Liberty, becauſe it comes from Hands that you think would not hurt you: Perhaps thoſe People whom you Rely ſo ſteadily up⯑on, are your Friends, and would not wil⯑lingly injure you, but they are not Diſſenters, their Opinion is not with you, ſo it can be no Point of Conſcience to them; perhaps they do not ſee ſo far into the fatal Conſe⯑quences of your Oppreſſions, as you may ſoon have Cauſe to do; and are willing to give up a few Points, which they may not be ſenſible are fatal to your Intereſt; and as this may form a greater Intereſt for them a⯑nother Way, they think this the leſſer Miſ⯑chief.

But is this ſuitable to the Sincerity of thoſe Pretences theſe Men have always made, of a Diſintereſted regard to the Concerns of the [27] Diſſenters? Is this according to the Stipula⯑tions of the Memorial to the P. of O . . . ? Or is not this opening a Door, at which the ap⯑parent Ruin of the Tolleration muſt infallibly enter? It is our Duty to ſuppoſe, that the Parliament has no ſuch View, has no Pro⯑ſpect or Intention, but to the better Eſta⯑bliſhing the Intereſt of the Church, and are not deſirous of Invading the Tolleration, or taking away the Liberties of the Diſ⯑ſenters, or leſſening their Native Rights: But is not the reſtleſs purſuit of the Ruin of the Diſſenters at the bottom of their Con⯑duct, who prompt theſe Things without Doors? And why do they content them⯑ſelves with this part of their Deſign at this time? But perhaps becauſe they fore⯑ſaw they could obtain no more, and becauſe they are willing to get up every Step they can, towards that intire Dominion over Conſcience, which they hope to arrive to.

It cannot be conſtrued a Reflection upon the Parliament, without manifeſt Injuſtice, to ſay, that others may have Abhorr'd Deſtructive Proſpects, in Contriving what theſe may have no View but the general Good in their Enacting; for the Whole⯑ſomeſt Laws have been perverted to the moſt wicked Purpoſes; as Eſtabliſhments of Ci⯑vil Right to Oppreſſion; Corporation-Pri⯑vileges to Monopoly; Royal Prerogative [28] to Tyranny, and Church Settlements to Perſecution; and therefore while we charge the Party who aim at the Ruin of the To⯑leration, to be at the Bottom of every At⯑tack againſt the Diſſenters; we no more Re⯑proach the Proceedings of the Parliament; than when we clear the Parliament of any Evil in ſuch Proceedings, we may be ſaid to acquit the Contrivers and Party, who promote on all Occaſions the Ruin of the Diſſenters Liberty.

That the preſent Bill depending in the Houſe, may be with fewer Reſtrictions than the laſt; That there may be ſome Clauſes in Favour of the Toleration, we cannot ſay but all this may be true, and the Mode⯑ration and Juſtice of the Houſes, are ſo far your Safety; but are there not Clauſes in the ſame Law, which leſſen the Liberties which the Act of Toleration either Granted you, or which were your Right in Conſe⯑quence of the Act of Toleration, or which are the Native Rights of Engliſh-Men? Are there no Clauſes which break in upon that Liberty of Conſcience, which we have ſo long inſiſted upon as a Right which no Humane Power ought to Invade? Are there no Branches of Perſecution in it? Are there no Powers given to your Enemies to Inſult and Oppreſs your Conſciences? Are there no poor Innocent Men, who muſt forego [29] their Employments, and ſtarve their Fa⯑milies, or act againſt Conſcience to feed them? Are there no innocent People who muſt be driven from the Diſſenters to the Church meerly for Subſiſtence? Or which is ſtill worſe, are there no Conſcientious Diſſenters who muſt now periſh and ſtarve, becauſe they cannot totally Conform, be⯑ing obliged to quit their Employments, becauſe they cannot in meer Conſcience comply? If none of theſe Things are in the Bill it is well: but if there are, Let the Diſſenters flatter themſelves as much they will, that thoſe on whoſe Favour and Judgment they ſo much depend, acqui⯑eſce in the Bill: Let them pleaſe them⯑ſelves as much as they will in the Nega⯑tives of the Bill, That this or that which was ſevere in the late Bill, was not in this; they will find, let this be as mild as it will, it is yet ſo much the nearer to the Perſecution which the Party de⯑ſigns; 'tis yet a Step forwarder to the approaching Evil that waits behind; the ſlower the Poiſon, the ſurer the Operation; the lingring Conſumption is moſt certain to kill, and the Toleration which is the Aim of the Party, is ſo much the nearer to its fatal Period.

[30] Nor is the Slumber of the Diſſenters, and the Lethargy that is upon them as to this Matter, the leaſt of their Danger, when they are ſo divided in Intereſts, heated with Animoſities, and engaged in Parties, that too many among them are willing to give up any thing, and fall in with any Body, ſo they can but ſtrengthen the Party Inte⯑reſt they purſue: This is a fore-boding Signal of the Ruin of their Intereſt, we ſpeak not meerly with reſpect to the pre⯑ſent Heats that rage among us, but for ſeveral Years paſt, this has been the pre⯑vailing Temper.

And how elſe could they now rejoyce in, and propoſe Things to themſelves from the ſeeming Converſion or Revolt, or what you will call it, of a Perſon known thro' many Years of Publick Conduct, to bear a profeſs'd Averſion to the Revolution, to the Per⯑ſon of the King, to the whole Body, Be⯑ing, and very Name of a Diſſenter? Is it for this Man and his very few Dependents, that we are ſo willing to Sacrifice the Li⯑berties of Two Millions of Her Majeſty's Subjects? Is it to gain a Man who no Side ever thought capable of Buſineſs, whoſe Intereſt never put an Ounce in the Scale of Parties, but who has been the Deriſion of all Sides, and the Contempt even of his [31] own Houſe? Is it for this Man's Favour that a whole Party ſhould deviate from their Ancient Steadineſs, and give up the Rights and Privileges of their Country⯑men?

We look upon an Attempt of this Nature, to be a Plot upon the Whigs in general, and their Intereſt as a Party, as well as upon the Diſſenters; and this Plot is to di⯑vide them, and no doubt but it will have the deſir'd Effect. For will the Diſſenters ever truſt a Low Church Whig again, when they find that theſe have turned up⯑on them in ſuch a manner as this, and flat⯑tering the other Party, put their Hands to ſuch a Work as this, ſmiling to the Tories, with JEHƲ, Come, ſee our Zeal for the Church!

Could there ever be a more effectual Step to divide the Intereſt of the Whigs? Can one Party ever betray another but it leſſens their Confidence one in another for ever after? Will a Diſſenter ever re⯑poſe his Safety again in the Breaſt of a Church Whig? Or will a Church Whig ever believe a Diſſenter can truſt him with his Liberty after this? And do not the Enemy percieve it?

Were there no Man of Moderation left among the whole Body to have recourſe to, to ſave Us? And when did this happen? Had [32] it been when a Majority of High Flying Intereſt had Govern'd in the . . . . . . . it might have been expected; but when we boaſted of the contrary to an Extream, to have this Storm ariſe from that Quarter! O Hominem! O Mores!

Why ſhould any Man wonder, That a Nemine Contradicente is added to the Ac⯑counts we have, of the Progreſs of the Affair we are upon? How ſhould it be expected that any one ſhould contradict what thoſe alone, who it was always ex⯑pected ſhould oppoſe it, had conſented to do, nay and as we are told, were the O⯑riginals, I had almoſt ſaid worſe, in the Fa⯑mous Introduction of it into the . . . .

It might be expected here, that ſome⯑what ſhould be ſaid to the Matter, of the preſent Bill depending: But there may be more time for that, and a Time more pro⯑per.

It may ſuffice at preſent, to ſpeak a little to the General Deſign of a Bill, or Act of Parliament, againſt The Occaſional Conformity of Diſſenters, whether it reſpects this Bill or no, and a little of that Occaſi⯑onal Conformity it ſelf, as they relate to what has been formerly Tranſacted in both Houſes of Parliament upon that Head.

[33] We have not the leaſt View in this to plead for the Occaſional Conformity of the Diſſenters, as it relates to a meer Qualifi⯑cation, a Practice which it is manifeſt few of the Diſſenters defend, which they are very much come off from, and which has done much more Prejudice to the Diſſenters themſelves, than to the Church. But it ſeems abſolutely neceſſary in common Juſtice, to diſtinguiſh here between a voluntary ill Pra⯑ctice of a few, and a Law to diveſt the Sub⯑ject either of his Civil or Religious Right.

We find many People, who by their con⯑ſtant Practice, tho' diſſenting in Worſhip, and in many things relating to Diſcipline, Church-Government and Ceremony, have yet held it as a Point of Conſcience, to main⯑tain a Communion of Charity with the Church; others, tho' they do not chooſe to Communicate with the Church, yet in ſuch Caſes where the Law requires it, think them⯑ſelves bound in Conſcience, as they are to ſhew Obedience to the Laws, to comply with that Occaſionally, which ſtatedly, they cannot do; theſe we call Conſcientious Conformers.

If theſe things are meerly Matter of Prin⯑ciple, then oppreſſing theſe Men muſt be the higheſt of Perſecution, which Perſecution was cenſur'd in the Preamble to the firſt Oc⯑caſional Bill, to be contrary to the Principle of the Chriſtian Religion, and the Doctrine [34] of the Church of England: And it is to be noted here, as well worth our Reflection, that both the firſt and ſecond Occaſional Bills were rejected, becauſe they were look'd upon to be a Degree of Perſecution.

We cannot but think 'tis always reaſona⯑ble to diſtinguiſh, between preventing an evil Practice, and taking away a Civil Right, and that this is the Caſe here, no Body will diſpute.

The Diſſenters have injury enough, in that they are by the Letter of the Law, con⯑trary to the Intent and Meaning of the whole Legiſlature at the time of its making, exclu⯑ded from the common Privileges in Society with their Fellow-Subjects, viz. of ſerving the Publick, and receiving the Reward of their Prince, for the Expreſſions of their Zeal and Loyalty in the publick Service; ex⯑cept upon the unhappy Condition of doing that (which as Diſſenters) they may be not ſuppoſed capable to do.

But to lay ſo ſevere an Injunction, That if ever they touch any publick Employ, they ſhall never go to hear a Sermon again, or to communicate again in a Meeting-Houſe. This is Perſecution with a witneſs, to com⯑pel to do any thing, which is againſt our Conſcience to do, otherwiſe, tho' lawful in itſelf, is Perſecution; to reſtrain from doing what is in it ſelf lawful, and we may think [35] to be Duty to do, is Perſecution; and all the Puniſhment inflicted in theſe Caſes, is Per⯑ſecution in the Abſtract.

It has been ſo often argu'd, that this is no Service to the Church, or to the High Party, that this Argument ſeems perfectly uſeleſs to be repeated; but we cannot but take notice, that all the Acts hitherto pro⯑pos'd, have not ſeem'd to have an Eye to the Church, but to the Civil Preferments; not to bring the Diſſenters over to the Church, but to keep them out of the Offices of Profit. There lies the true Aim in all this matter; and this has been ſo viſible in all the former Practice, that it needs little Explanation.

Had the Deſign been purely the bringing the Diſſenters over to the Church, they would let it alone where it is, ſince nothing is more certain than this, that the Occaſional Con⯑formity of Diſſenters has done more towards bringing all their Poſterity into the Church, than all the Coecive Laws, Penal Statutes, or other Violence in the World could ever do; and it is moſt remarkable, that general⯑ly ſpeaking, where-ever the Parents have been Occaſional Conformiſts, the Children have been total Conformiſt. So that this Liberty taken by the Diſſenters, has been the Ruin of their Strength, the breaking of the principal Families of their Party, and the [36] indifferency of one Age has terminated the diſſenting of the next.

This the High Church Men are not igno⯑rant of, and it is mention'd for this Reaſon, viz. To prove, that were the true Intereſt of the Church regarded in this Caſe, or at leaſt were that true Intereſt the End and De⯑ſign in theſe things, they would entirely let the Diſſenters alone. But the Deſign in theſe things is ſo far from that, is ſo remote from a Religious View, that it all centers in ma⯑king Parties, keeping Poſts of Profit and Ad⯑vantage, and if poſſible, keeping the Diſſen⯑ters out of them; and which is yet worſe, the Aim is at a dividing the Intereſt of the Whiggs, which being link'd to that of the Diſſenters, has been too formidable for them to deal with; but if the Low Church Men can be brought to give up the Diſſenters—What then! Why they ſhall have the Ho⯑nour—of what? Of being devour'd laſt, and that is all they can promiſe themſelves.

And will the Low Church Men give up the Diſſenters? Will they make a Sacrifice of the Conſciences of their Brethren, to gain a ſmall Addition to their Party Intereſt? What can be ſaid to them? We crave leave to remind them of two or three things.

Are theſe the Men you will now Sacrifice to the private Views you have of a Party-Strength? Are theſe the Returns to the Diſſenters, for the putting themſelves into your Hands? Is this the Temper promiſed them at the Revolution? Is this the Juſtice to their adhering ſo vehemently to the per⯑ſonal Intereſt, in the late Changes of thoſe that are now making a Market of them? Honeſt Coleman! Thou haſt loſt the moſt effectual and undiſputed Axiom of Political Philoſophy that ever was deliver'd at the Gallows; No Truſt in Man! The Scri⯑ptures concur in it: Rich Men are Vanity, and Great Men are a Lye. Put not your Truſt in Princes.

[39] Turn we our Eyes up to Heaven, from whence cometh Help; and as Zachariah the Son of Jehojadah ſaid, when the Rabble ſtoned him, after all the great Things his Father had done for them; The Lord look upon it, and require it.

Nor can the Spirit of common Diſcern⯑ning forbear to ſay, without Reſpect or Claim to Prophecies, This cannot end but in the ſinking of that very Party, who by this Treatment of an innocent People, ſeek to Eſtabliſh their Intereſt even with the very Men they always abhorr'd. They will ſink under the Weight of the Party they Careſs, and this Egyptian ſhall be to them as a Staff, which whoever leaneth thereon, it ſhall pierce thro' their Hand, and the Deliverance of the Diſſenters ſhall come ſome other way.

But we are told here ſeveral Things, to buoy us up under the Weight of what we ſee coming upon us; ſuch as theſe.

We anſwer briefly to this, that, as before, We are not debating what Favour the Two Houſes of Parliament may grant in the Bill now depending. It is not for us to ſay here we are ſpeaking of or to that Bill, or to the Houſes of Parliament; but we are ſpeaking to thoſe People, whom we call Whigs without Doors, who are concern'd in, or agree to bringing any Bill in, or putting forward any Law, to reſtrain the Conſciences of Innocent Men, and take from them at the ſevere Pe⯑nalty of the loſs of their Employments, the Liberty of ſerving God, according to their Conſciences: If the Parliament have ſweet⯑ned this bitter Potion with any Negatives; with any Favours, We are for being thankful for all Favours, but We are not to think our ſelves oblig'd at all to any of thoſe People, [41] if any ſuch are, who having it in their Power to prevent it, have put us into the Condition to ſeek or be glad of ſuch Favours.

And let thoſe Favours be what they will, if the Clauſe excluding all thoſe from the Natural Privilege of Loyal Subjects, and from the Favours of their Sovereign, who cannot, how Conſciencious ſoever their Scruples are, Con⯑form to the Church: We may without Offence ſay, we ſhould not be at all the leſs thank⯑ful to be without the ſaid Favours, having but at the ſame time the Liberty to be without the Grievance.

As to what is called Confirming our To⯑leration, if we think it ſufficiently Confirm'd before, and in a moſt Sacred Manner Eſta⯑bliſh'd, beſides the Act of Parliament, in the Sanction of Her Majeſty's Solemn Pro⯑miſe from the Throne, of preſerving it Inviolable: We hope it will not be ill taken, if we ſay, We do not ſee how it can be better Confirm'd, tho' every Seſſion of Parliament ſhould paſs a New Act in its Favour: Nor is our Confidence leſs in Her Majeſty's Sacred Promiſe, than in all the Acts to Confirm our Toleration, that are or can be paſs'd, ſince one Parliament may Repeal what ever Acts another has made, and even their own too: But Her Ma⯑jeſty's Veracity is a Royal Security which we have ſo much Dependance upon, as [42] we cannot prevail upon our ſelves to ſay, We deſire any further Confirmation of it.

That the Parliament in their printed Votes have thrown Dirt in the Face of that condemn'd Impoſtor S . . . . . l, and reſtor'd the Act for the Liberty of Diſſen⯑ters, to the true Title and Denomination of it, viz. a Toleration, vide the Votes, Die Lunae Decemb. 18. 1711. It is a ſatisfy⯑ing Piece of Juſtice done that Honourable Houſe, and what we are bound to acknow⯑ledge, is like the Righteous Proceedings of ſo Auguſt an Aſſembly, and we ſhould have been larger in owning the Favour, did it not come accompany'd with ſome⯑thing in the Cover of it, which we can by no means, without the utmoſt Hypocriſy be thankful for, viz. An Act to reſtrain the Conſciences of Men, in the Affair of poſ⯑ſeſſing Offices, without renouncing the worſhip⯑ping God in their own way, and according to the Dictates of their Conſciences. For this we can no more be thankful, than to a Judge who pronounces Sentence of Death againſt us for Crimes we think our ſelves not guilty of.

That we had as Diſſenters a Legal Tole⯑ration before, by Act of Parliament, is cer⯑tain, That the Act Intitled, An Act to Ex⯑empt Her Majeſty's Proteſtant Subjects, &c. is a Toleration, is out of all queſtion true, [43] and to prove it, The Title to this Act now paſſing is my Authority, being the Words of the Parliament, Lords and Commons, in whoſe Name, and by whoſe very Mouths S . . . . . . l is thus pronounc'd an Impoſtor and a Deceiver.

We might Addreſs our ſelves now to ſpeak to the Act it ſelf, and examine Two Things in it, and which ſhall be done with Brevity and Modeſty.

1. Will it anſwer the End which is pre⯑tended in the Title, viz. To ſecure the Church of England; To this I give the Opinion of all thoſe Gentlemen, whoſe Speeches are up⯑on Record, againſt the firſt and ſecond Occaſional-Bill, where it ſeems manifeſt, at leaſt, That it was all their Opinion, that this Law would bring no real Addition to the Church, only ſerve to keep the Body of [44] Diſſenters more united: And if we might add in this Caſe, that Ʋnion may in time be found the only Caſe, in which the Diſſen⯑ters can be formidable to the Church: The divided Condition of the Diſſenters, their vain Truſts in the Great Men who they thought were their Protectors, their frequent Acceſs to Favours and Fortunes; theſe have all along been the Foundation of their Diſ⯑aſters; their Dependance upon Great Men elevated them, made them ſecure, divided them, made them deſpiſe Caution and Ene⯑mies, and made them ſelf-intereſted, narrow, and reſerv'd; in ſhort, it bury'd what they call a Publick Spirit among them; this leſ⯑ſen'd them in their Real Strength to that Degree, that inſtead of making them For⯑midable, it made them Deſpicable; ſo that indeed the Liberty and Occaſional Confor⯑mity of Diſſenters, has been their Ruin, has been the Weakning their Strength, Leſſen⯑ing their Numbers, and Deſtroying their Intereſt; and in all theſe have been, if the Proſperity of the Diſſenters is the Churches Danger, a Safety to the Church. Now will this Reſtraint anſwer the Churches End, as it is propos'd? It is impoſſible; neither is it Calculated for that End, ſince as is before Noted, the Deſign is not to bring the Diſſenters over to the Church, but to keep them out of Places: But if [45] alarm'd by this Treatment, the Diſſenters ſhould more firmly Unite, act in Concert, recover the Reputation of their Integrity and Sincerity, as if they are wiſe they may, they will add weight to their Intereſt, and the End of their mighty Struggle will be quite Defeated.

2. Will it anſwer the End of thoſe, who by it puſh at breaking the Meaſures of the Court, as to Peace or War?

Not in the leaſt. The Intereſt they had this way is entirely divided by it; Mutual Confidence is Deſtroy'd, Irretrievably De⯑ſtroy'd, and can never be Reſtor'd. When Men Truſt and Confide in one another, and then Decieve one another, they ſeldom, but in Parties and Sets of Men Never Truſt a⯑gain; they may join Out-ſides, tho' that will be Difficult, but In-ſides Never: Now if the Concert is broken, which when whole could not withſtand the Meaſures above, how ſhould they do it when Divided? No Strength encreaſes by being ſeparated; Vis Unita Fortior, is an Old and True Max⯑im, to ſay Vis ſeparata Fortior, would be a groſs Abſurdity; Can any one be ſo weak to think that the Intereſt of the Whigs and Diſſenters, which is miſerably Torn and Diſmembred by this Myſtery of Politicks, can be able to do that now which they could not do before? Where are the Legions [46] added to their Strength by this New Step? Where is the Equivalent they Recieve? Ridiculus Mus! A poor empty unaccom⯑pany'd Hero, Whoſe Intereſt has not been able to Draw his own Brethren, the Sons of his Mother, into his Meaſures. Nay, whoſe Meaſures Unconcerted and Undetermin'd, have hardly amounted to a Clear Propoſal—Where are the Preliminaries of this mighty Treaty? Truly the Whigs have done as the King of France was to do, firſt evacuate the Towns, and then let the Confederates make their Demands, ſo they have firſt eva⯑cuated their Friends, ſurrendred the Faith they had Pledg'd to the Diſſenters, and now the Tories may make their Demands, and if it be to give up the Toleration next, we do not ſee how theſe can deny them; ſo that in ſhort, the End is as Uncertain as it was before.

3. Will this Act Confirm the Toleration? Becauſe the Houſe ſays it ſhall, we will not ſay it ſhall not; but God forbid we ſhould ſay it will, while we ſee not the leaſt room for any thing of that Kind: This Act and a Hundred more of this Nature, being all attended with this Circumſtance, That they may be Repeal'd by the Breath of the Houſe, who gives them Life. As to the Succeſſion being Secured, by excluding a few Jacobites out of the Faculty at Edinburgh, where they [47] are capable of doing little Miſchief, unleſs they were likewiſe excluded out of Com⯑miſſions of the Peace in Scotland, where their Power is capable of doing things Fatal to the Succeſſion, as may be proved by innu⯑merable Inſtances, We cannot have ſo much value for that Clauſe as others have. As to Confirming the Toleration, We will not ſay that this Act is a direct Breach of the Tole⯑ration, and a moſt Open Invaſion of the Li⯑berties Granted to the Diſſenters by the To⯑leration; But we muſt profeſs our ſelves utterly Ignorant of any Diſcovery to our pre⯑ſent Underſtanding, as to any Clauſe, Mat⯑ter, or Thing in it, whereby the ſaid To⯑leration is at all Confirm'd as aboveſaid; which Ignorance, we hope, may be Humbly acknowledg'd, without Offence.

We conclude this with One Only View, being the laſt Reſort the Diſſenters have, and the Alone Help, which Humane Power can offer to interpoſe in this Affair, and This is in Her Majeſties Royal Goodneſs and Com⯑paſſion.

And the Authors of this ſmall Tract, beg leave, in the Humbleſt manner, with all poſſible Reſpect, with the utmoſt ſence of Duty, in the Name of Her Majeſties Loyal, but Diſtreſſed, Proteſtant Subjects, the Diſ⯑ſenters; to whom Her Majeſty has ſo often promis'd Her Protection; and in whoſe Zeal [48] for Her Service, Her Majeſty has been Gra⯑ciouſly pleas'd to expreſs great Satisfaction; To repreſent,

That Her Majeſty has given Her Royal and Sacred Promiſe to Them on ſeveral Occaſions, to Preſerve their Toleration Inviolable.

Submitting the reſt to Her Majeſty's Conſideration.

FINIS.
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