lute Volume of the Hillery of the Puritans. 885 any unlawful aJfembly or conventicle; under colour or pretence ofreligious exercife: " All perlons offending in thefe particulars are to be committed " to prifon without bail or mainprize, till they conform.' If they do not " conform within three months, they are to abjure the realm, to " go into banifhment, and forfeit all their goods and chattles for ever. " And if they refute to abjure and depart, or return again without licence, " they are adjudgedfelons, and to fuffer as in cafe of felony, without be- " nefit of clergy." 'Tis eafy to brand this with the name of (edition and die loyalty, as the rulers of the fynagogue did the praaice of the apoftles and primitive chriftians, but in the opinion of all impartial men it will beconftrued neither better nor worfe, than PERSECUTION FOR CONSCI- ENCE SAKE ; and 'tis very remarkable, that there is a provifo in this ftatute, that no POP ISu RECUSANTflail be compelled or bound to abjure, by virtue of this at?. Such was her majefty's tendernefs for the papifts, while the was crufhing proteftant difenters ! But our author contends, that it was the provoking behaviour ofthe puritans that brought this upon them. Could not the government then punifh rudenefs and ill manners, without making a new law inconfftent with the chriftian inftitution, andgreatly ofenfive to almighty God ? If a man offers abufive language to his fuperiors, muff he be hanged, unlefs be will go to church ? What connection is there between thefe things ? Let us then, for argument fake, admit all our author's fads, (viz) that the puritans, in their writings, gave fcurrilous language to the bifhops, and judges, and that they glanced fometimes in a difrefpeEtful manner upon the queen herfelf, for countenancing their proceedings ; that they expofed the imperfections of the hierarchy eftablifhed by law, and contended faucily in their writings and petitions to the parliament, for a form of government, not fodeferable as the prefent, &c. will it follow from hence, that they, and all other proteftant di//enters, ought to be obliged to come to church, orPuffer the(harp punJhments of abjuration, confifcatîon ofgoods, lofs of eftate, liberty and life, and be ufed worfethan houfe-breakers orfilons at common law ; that is, to be condemned to death, without benefit of clergy ? ( am unwilling to take any notice of the prefent times, liince there grievances, are in part removed, and there feems to have been a better underftanding between the church and difienters for many years; but I muff take the liberty to inform this gentleman and his brethren, that the PROTESTANT -D ISSENTING LAÍTY of the prefent age, who have the welfare of their king and country, and the proteftant religion as much at heart, as the muff loyal of his majefty's fubjeéts of the eftablifhment, will never think themfelves reftored.to the rights ofenglifh men, nor freed from the yoke of penal laws upon confcience, till the legiflature in their great VoL. I. ' 5 X wifdom
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=