278 Mr. NE A L's IF Vol. of the hood in that manner ever fence the Reformation ; omitted] and committed many Infolent and Scanda- lous D f rders ; and that ifany oppos'd them, they were font for before the Committee. Lord Clarendon adds, ' And when the Minifter, and the graver and more fubftantial Sort of Inha- bitants us'd any Oppofition, and refuted their Li- cence, they were immediately requir'd to attend the Committee ; and if they could neither be per- loaded nor threaten'd to fubmit, their Attendance ' was continued from day to day, to their great = Charge and Vexation.' Neal, p. 491. But the faireft flccount of this Matter may begather'd from Mr. Pym's Report to, the Houle at theirfirft Meeting after the Recels. No queftion Mr. Pym's Account muff be better than Lord Clarendon's; becaufe Pym was a Fana- tick, and Republican. And Dr. Nafon thinks, * ' That it had been happy for England, if they had never met again, = to be the Authors of the molt difmal Tragedy, that ever was acted upon the Theatre of Eng- ' land; but Providence,whofe Wifdom is unfearch- ' able, had ordain'd them to be a Scourge to a = People, wanton with long Plenty, and even Re- ligion itfelf.' Neal, p. 491. Remarkable are the Words of Sir Edward Dering to this purpofe ; ' The Ordersof the Houle (fays he) are doubtlefs powerful, ifgrounded upon the Laws of the Land ; upon this Warrant we may by an Order enforce any thing that is undoubt- ' edlyft grounded, and by the fame Rule we may ab = rogate whatfoever is introduced contrary to the un- doubted Foundation of your Laws : but we may not ' rule and govern by arbitrary and difutable Orders, efpecially in Matters of Religion.' Rufhworth, Vol. IV. p. 32. aljon, Vol. II. p. 487. And
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