C 149 J long Catalogue of. Puritans, and thofe the molt confiderable of the Party bene- ficed in the Church, after the Noncon- formity and Oppofition of many Years. Any one who examines the feveral Ads of Parliament relating to thofe Affairs, confiders the Preambles or the State of Things at the making of them, will find a farther.Confirmation, that the Penal Laws were not intended againfl confcientious andquiet Men, but were thought a neceffary .Means to fecure the publick Welfare, and reftrain thofe violent 'Proceedings, which threatened both the Ecclefiaflical and Civil Parts of the Conf}itution. The Ad of which Mr. N. complains the mot, was, as the Preamble fets forth, made " for the preventingandavoidingof fuch great Incol2veniencies and Perils, as might " happen and grow by the wicked and " dangerous Practices of feditiousSe ìa- " ries and difloyal Perfons. The next Thing to be confider'd, is, how it came to pa'fs; that Conformity was more warmly prefs'd, and theLaws relating thereto put in flri ter Execu- tion, after fome Years, than theywere at theBeginning of the Queen's Reign ? And if under this Head it (hall appear, that the Conduó of the Puritans gave Occafion to this Proceeding, their Mif L 3 behaviour
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