P R E F A C E . iac The refutation of the church of England has been very much advanced of late years, by the fufpenfion of the penal laws, and the legal indulgence granted to protefiant difenters. Long experience has taught us, that uni- formity in ds5Irine andwor/hip, enforced by penal laws, is not the way to the church's peace ; that there may be a feparation from a true church without fchifm; and fchifn within a church without feparation ; that the indulgence grantedby law to proteftant non-conformifis, which has now fubfi/led above fortyyears, has not been prejudicial to church or Bate, but rather advantageous to both ; for the revenues of the ellablifhed church have not been leened ; a number of poor have been maintained by the Diffenters, which muß otherwife have come to thepari/h ; the feparation has kept up an emulation among the clergy ; quickened them to their paftoral duty, and been acheck upon their moral behaviour ; and Iwill venture to fay, when- ever the feparate a/mblier of proteftant non-conformßs /hall eeaf and all men be obliged to worfhip at their parifh churches, that ignorance and lazi- nefs will prevail among the clergy; and that the laity an many parts of the country, will degenerate into füperftition, prophanenefs, and downright atheifm. With regard to the STATE; it ought to be remembered that theproteftant d(enters have alwaysflood by the laws and conftitution of their country; that theyjoined heartily in the glorious revolution of king WIL- LIAM and queen.MARY, and fufferedfor their fteady adherence to the proteftant fucciffion in the illu/tràous pouf of his PRESENT MAJESTY, when great numbers who called themfelves churchmen, were looking another way; for this, the fchifm bill and other hardfhips were put upon them, andnot for their religious differences with the church ; for if they would have joined the adminiftration at that time, 'tis well known they might have made much better terms for them/elves ; but as long as there is a pro- teftant difrenter in England, therewill a friendof liberty, and of ourpre- fent happy conftitution. Inftead thereforeof crufhing them, or comprehend- ing themwithin the church, it muß be the intereft of all true lovers of their country, even upon political views, to eat their complaints, and to fupport and countenance their chrßian liberty. For though the church of .England is as freefrom perfecuting principles_ as any eablifhment in Europe, yet /till there are force grievances remain- ing, which wife and good men of all parties with might be reviewed; not to mention the fubfcriptions which affeel the clergy ; there is the atl of the 25th of king Charles U. for preventing dangers anfing from popilh re- enfants, commonly called the TEST ACT, which obliges, under very. " feverepenalties, all perfono, [of the laity] bearing any office, or place of " fruit or profit, (befades taking the oaths of allegiance and füpremacy,. and " fubfcribing a declaration againß tranfubftantiation ;) to receive thefa- " crament of ' the Lord's jupper according to the ufage of the church of VoL. I b " England,
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