to have been presented to him, among other bills, for his royal consent to it. A notable token of the abhorrence the court then had of all penal laws, and of their great kindness to dissenters,

V. Who may remember, if they please, that as once there was a time, when the court turned out, or chid, those justices, who were forward in the execution of the laws against nonconformists, because they were in so low a condition, that the court was afraid the church of England might indeed be established in its uniformity, so when the nonconformists were, by some liberty, grown stronger, and set themselves against the court interest, in the election of sheriffs, and such like things, then all those justices were turned out who hung back, and would not execute the laws against them, and justices pickt out for the purpose, who would do it severely. Nay, the clergy were called upon, and had orders sent them, to return the names of all nonconformists in their several parishes, that they might be proceeded against in the courts ecclesiastical. And here I cannot forget the order made by the Middlesex justices at the sessions at Hickes-hall, Jan. 13, 1681, where they urge the execution of the act of 22. Car. 2. against conventicles, because in all probability they will destroy both church and state. This was the reason which moved them to call upon constables and all other officers to do their duty in this matter: Nay, to call upon the B. of London himself, that he would use his utmost endeavours, within his jurisdiction, that all such persons may be excommunicate. This was a bold stroke, proceeding from an unusual degree of zeal; which plainly enough signifies that the bishops were not so forward as the justices in the prosecuting of dissenters. Who may do well to remember, that the House of Commons, a little before this, had been so kind to them, that those justices would not have dared to have been so severe as they were at Hickes-Hall, if they had not been set on by directors from Whitehall. For in their order they press the execution of the statute, 1 Eliz. and 3 Jac. 1. for levying twelve-pence a Sunday upon all those that do not come to church: Whereas the House of Commons, Nov. 6, 1680, had resolved, nemine contradicente, that it is in the opinion of this house, that the acts of parliament made in the reign of Q. Elizabeth and King James, against popish rescusants, ought not to be extended against protestant dissenters.

VI. Who should not forget how backward the clergy of London especially were to comply with this design, of reviving the execution of the laws against them; what courses they took to save them from this danger! And what hatred they incurred for being so kind to them! Which in truth was kindness to themselves; for now they saw plainly enough that nothing was intended but the destruction of us both, by setting us, in our turns, one against the other. Many indeed were possessed with the old opinion, that the dissenters aimed at the overthrow of the government both in church and state; which made them the more readily join with those who were employed to suppress them, by turning the edge of the laws upon them. But both these were most industriously promoted by the court; who laboured might and main to have this believed, that they who were called Whigs intended the ruin of the church and the monarchy too: And therefore none had the court favour, but they alone who were for the ruining of them. All others were frowned upon, and branded with the name of Trimmers, who they adventured at last, to say they were worse than Whigs, merely because they, seeing the design, desired those ugly names of Whig and Tory might be laid aside; and persuaded all to moderation, love, unity, and peace. If any man had these dangerous words in his mouth, he had a mark set upon him, and was looked upon as an enemy as soon as he discovered any desires of reconciliation. No peace with dissenters was then as much in some men's mouths, as No peace with Rome had been in others. They were all voted to destruction, and it was an unpardonable crime so much as to mention an accommodation.

Such things as these ought not to be forgotten.

VII. But if they list not to call them to mind, (though they be of fresh memory,) yet let them at least consider what they have had at their tongues end, ever since they knew any thing, That the church of Rome is a persecuting church, and the mother of persecution. Will they then be deluded by the present sham of liberty of conscience, which they of that church pretend to give it? It is not in their power, no more than in their spirit; they never will nor can give liberty of conscience, but with a design to take all liberty from us. That church must be obeyed, and there is no middle choice among them, between turn or burn, conform or be undone. What liberty do they give in any country where their power is established? What liberty can they give, who have determined that all hereticks ought to be rooted out? Look into France, (with which we have had the strictest alliance and friendship a long time,) and behold, how at this moment they compel those to go to mass who they know abhor it as an abominable idolatry. Such a violent spirit now acts them, that they stick not to profane their own most holy mysteries, that they may have the face of an universal conformity without the least liberty. For the new converts, as they are called, poor wretches, are known to be mere outward compliers, in their hearts abominating that which they are forced externally to worship. They declare as much by escaping from this tyranny over their consciences, and bewailing their sinful compliance, whensoever they have an opportunity. And they that cannot escape, frequently protest they have been constrained to adore that which they believe ought not to be adored. And when they come to die, refuse to receive the Romish sacrament; and thereupon are dragged, when dead, along the streets, and thrown like dead dogs upon the dung-hills. Unto what a height of rage are the spirits of the Romish clergy inflamed, that it perfectly blinds their eyes, and will not let them see how they expose the most sacred things in all their religion (the holy sacrament, which they believe to be Jesus Christ himself) to be recei ved by those who they know have no reverence at all for it, but utterly abhor it; for they force them, by all manner of violence, to adore the Host against their will, and to eat what they have adored, though they have the greatest reason to believe that those poor creatures do not adore it. That is, the church of Rome will have her mysteries adored by all, though it be by hypocrites. None shall be excused, but whether they believe or not believe, they shall be compelled to do as that church doth. Nothing shall hinder it, for the hatred and fury wherewith they are now transported is so exceeding great, that it makes them (as I have said) offer violence even to their own religion, rather than suffer any body not to conform to it.

VIII. And assure yourselves they are very desirous to extend this violence beyond the bounds of France. They would fain see England also in the same condition. The Bishop of Valence and Die hath told us as much, in the speech which he made to the French king, in the name of the clergy of France, to congratulate his glorious atchievements in rooting out the heresy of Calvin, in which he had a most memorable passage, for which we are beholden to him, because it informs us, that they are not satisfied with what their king hath done there, but would have him think there is a further glory reserved for him, of lending his help to make us such good catholicks as he hath made in France. This is the blessed work they would be at; and if any among us be still so blind as not to see it, we must look upon it as the just judgment of God upon them for some other sins which they have committed. They are delivered up to a reprobate mind, which cannot discern the most evident things. They declare to all the world that they have been above fifty years crying out against they know not what, for they know not what popery is (of which they have seemed to be horribly afraid) if they believe that they of that religion either can or will give any liberty, when they have power to establish their tyranny. It is no better; St John himself hath described that church under the name of Babylon, that cruel city, and of a beast, which, like a bear,

tramples all under its feet; and of "another beast, which causes as many as will not worship the image of the beast to be killed; and that no man may buy or sell save such as have had his mark,” i. e. are of his religion, Rev. xiii. 14, 15, 16. This character they will make good to be the very end of their reign, as they have fulfilled it from the beginning. They cannot alter their nature no more than the " Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots." It ever was, since the rise of the beast, and it ever will be till its fall, a bloody church, which can bear no contradiction to her doctrine and orders, but will endeavour to root out all those that oppose her from the face of the earth. Witness the barbarous crusados against the poor Albigenses in France; in one of which alone, Bellarmine himself saith, and not without triumph, there were killed no less than an hundred thousand. Witness the horrible butcheries committed in France, in England, and in the Low Countries, in the age before us, and in Poland, the vallies of Piedmont, and in Ireland, in this age, upon those who had no other fault but this, that they made the Holy Scriptures, and not the Roman church, the rule of their faith.

IX. But if you be ignorant of what hath been done and is doing abroad, yet I hope you observe what they do here at home. What do you think of the declaration which was very lately imposed to be read in all our churches? which, when several bishops and their clergy most humbly represented, they could not in conscience publish to the people in time of divine service; this would not excuse them, their petition was received with indignation, and looked upon as a libel; the bishops were prosecuted for it; and enquiry is now ordered to be made after these who did not read it, (as well as those that did,) that they may be punished by the high commissioners. Call you this liberty of conscience? or do you imagine you shall never have any thing imposed upon you, to be read in your congregations, which you cannot comply withall? Consider, I beseech you, what will become of you when that time shall come. when that time shall come. What's the meaning of this, that ever they are looked upon as offenders for following their conscience, whose services have been acknowledged to be so great, that they should never be forgotten? It ought to teach dissenters what they are to expect hereafter, when they have served them so far (by taking off the tests and the penal laws) as to enable them with safety to remember all their former pretended transgressions. Let them assure themselves the services of the church of England are not now more certainly forgotten, than the sins of dissenters will hereafter, when they have got power to punish them, be most certainly remembered. Be not drawn in then by deceitful words, to help forward your own destruction. If you will not be assistant to it, they cannot do it alone; and it will be very strange if you be persuaded to lend them your help, when the deceit is so apparent. For what are all the present pleas for liberty, but so many infamous libels upon the Roman church, which denies all men this liberty? While they declaim so loudly against persecution, they most notoriously reproach popery, which subsists by nothing but deceit and cruelty. And who can think that they would suffer their church to be so exposed and reviled as it is by such discourses, but with a design to cheat heedless people into its obedience? For this end they can hear it proved, nay prove it themselves, to be an anti-christian church; when they prove it is against Christianity, nay, against the law of nature and common reason, to trouble any body for his opinion in religion.

X. Once more then I beseech you, be not deceived by good words, if you love your liberty and your life. Call to mind how our poor brethren in France were very lately deluded by the repeated protestations which their king made, he would observe the edict of Nantz (which was the foundation of their liberty) even then, when he was about to overthrow it; and by many assurances which were given them by those who came to torment them, that the king intended to reform the church of France as soon as he had united his subjects. What he had done already against the court of Rome,

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they told them was an instance of it, and they should shortly see other matters. Such ensnaring words they heard there daily from the mouths of their armed persecutors, who were ready to fall upon them, or had begun to oppress them; and, therefore, they would be arrant fools here, if they did not give good words when they have no power to hurt us. But we shall be far greater fools if we believe they will keep their word, when they have got that power. They have no other way but this, to wheedle us out of our laws and liberties. Do but surrender the one, I mean our laws, and they will soon take away the other, our beloved liberties. But be not tempted to make such a dangerous experiment; but let the laws stand as they are, because they are against them, (as appears by their earnest endeavours to repeal them,) and be not used as tools to take them away, because they have been grievous to you. They never can be so again. For can they who now court you have the face to turn them again upon you, after they have made all this noise for liberty? And the church of England, you may be assured, will not any more trouble you; but when a protestant prince shall come, will join in the healing of all our breaches, by removing all things out of the way which have long hindered that blessed work. They cannot meet together in a body to give you this assurance, (how should they without the king's authority so to do?) but every particular person that I have discoursed withal, which are not a few, (aud you yourselves would do well to ask them when you meet them,) profess that they see an absolute necessity of making an end of these differences that have almost undone us, and will no longer contend to bring all men to one uniformity, but promote an uniform liberty. Do not imagine I intend to give mere words; I mean, honestly, such a regu ar liberty as will be the beauty and honour, not the blot and discredit of our religion. To such a temper the Archbishop of Canterbury, with several other bishops of his province, and their clergy, have openly declared they are willing to come: and the bishops and clergy of the church of England have never been known to act deceitfully. Our religion will not at any time allow them to equivocate, nor to give good words without a meaning. Much less at such a time as this, when our religion is in great danger; and we have nothing to trust unto but God's protection of sincere persons. Let integrity and uprightness preserve us is their constant prayer. They can hope for no help from Heaven, if they should prevaricate with men. God they know would desert them, if they should go about to delude their brethren. And they are not so void of sense, as to adventure to incur his most high displeasure, when they have nothing to rely upon but his favour.

In short, trust to those who own you for their brethren, as you do them; for though they have been angry brethren, yet there is hope of reconciliation between such near relations. But put no confidence in those, who not only utterly disown any such relation to you, but have ever treated you with an implacable hatred as their most mortal enemies, unto whom it is impossible they should be reconciled.

Prov. xii, 19, 20, "The lips of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue

is but for a moment.

"Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord; but they that deal truly are his de-light."

An Apology for the Church of England, with Relation to the Spirit of Persecution, for which she is accused. By Bishop Burnet.

Gilbert Burnet, D. D., after an active share in many of the political proceedings of Charles II.'s reign, had retired to the continent, and was now settled at the court of the Prince of Orange. Here he did not fail, with that ready insinuation which seems to have distinguished him, to make himself of consequence to the prince, and especially to the princess, afterwards Queen Mary. From this place of refuge, he sent forth several papers, in single sheets, relating to the controversy in England: and the clergy, who had formerly looked upon him with some suspicion, began now to treat with great attention and respect a person so capable of serving their cause. He was consulted upon every emergency; which confidence was no doubt owing partly to his situation near the person of the Prince of Orange, the protestant heir to the crown. He stood forward as the champion of the church of England, in the controversy with Parker concerning the test. In the History of his own Times, the bishop talks with complacency of the sway which circumstances had given him among the clergy, and of the important matters which fell under his management; for, by express command of the Prince of Orange, he was admitted into all the secrets of the English intrigues. These insinuations of Burnet's importance, although they afterwards drew the ridicule of Pope and the tory wits of Queen Anne's reign, may, from the very satire of Dryden, be proved to have been well founded. This acquired consequence of Burnet with the church of England is the alliance between the Pigeon-house and Buzzard, which Dryden reprobates, believing, or wishing to make others believe, that Burnet held opinions unfavourable to episcopacy. James considered this divine as so formidable an enemy, that he wrote two very severe letters to his daughter against him, and proceeded so far as to insist that he should be forbidden the court; a request which could not be evaded, but did not prevent his privately receiving a double degree of countenance. A prosecution for high treason was next commenced against Burnet, and a demand was made that he should be delivered up, which the States eluded, declaring that he was naturalized by marrying a Dutch lady. The court of England were then supposed to have formed a plan, of kidnapping, or perhaps assassinating him, and a reward of £3000 was offered for this service. Burnet, however, confident in the protection of the Prince and States of Holland, answered, replied, and retorted, and carried on almost immediate controversy with his sovereign, dated from the court of that sovereign's son-in-law. This active politician had a very important share in the Revolution, and reaped his reward by being advanced to the see of Salisbury. He died on the 17th of March, 1714-15.

1. ONE should think that the behaviour of the English clergy for some years past, and the present circumstances in which they are, should set them beyond slander, and by consequence above apologies; yet, since the malice of her enemies works against her with so much spite, and since there is no insinuation that carries so much malice in it, and that seems to have such colours of truth on it, as this of their having set on a severe persecution against the dissenters, of still being soured with that leven, and of carrying the same implacable hatred to them, which the present reputation that they have gained may put them in a further capacity of executing, if another revolution of affairs should give them authority to set about it; it seems necessary to examine it, and