:xii Charge, p. 22. Ibid. P R E F . A c · K The bifh_op_ goes on; " let us now tra~sfer this power of jewijh kings " and chn{ban emperors to our own kmgs, and the cafe will admit of " an eafy decifion-" If indeed an abfolute Jitpremacy in matters if religion, is the natural and unalienable right of ev~ry chrijlian king and emperor, the dijpute is at an end; but if it depe'nds upon a transfer, we mu/J beg pardon, if we dtjire his lordjhip to produce his commijjion for tranf– firring the fame powers, that Almighty G~dgave the jewilh kings of his own appointment, to the fir!l chriil:ian emperors, who were neither chqfe1z by God, nor the people, nor the fenate if Rome, but ufurped the Jitpreme authority, by the a./Jiflance of the military arm, and were /ome if them the greateft tyrants and ji:ourges qf mankind. His lordjhips adds, " have not the englifh kings, fince the reformation, " aCtually been invefted with the SAME SUPREMACY, as the jewijh " kings and chriil:ian emperors were ?'' 1 anfwer, fuch a fupremacy is, in my judgment, inco'!fiflent with our prefent conflitution, and the laws ilz being. The fupremacy claimed by king Henry VIII. and his fucce/Jors, at the reformation, was found by experience too excejfroe,. and therefore abridged in the reigns if king Charles I. and king William IlL No one doubts, but the kings if. Englar.d are obliged to protee! religion, and defend the eftabliihment as long as the legiflature think /it to continue it ; but as they may not fiifpend or ch,znge it by their .fovereign pleafure, (o neither may they publijh edie!s if. their 07r.:n to enforce it, as was the cafe of the fitjl chrijlian emperors. The reader will excuje this digrdfion, as necejfary to Jupport a principal fae! of my hijlory. I am Julficiently moare of the delicacy of the a.fj'airs treated if in this 'VOiumf, and rf the tendernefs if' the ground 1 go over ; and though I have been very careful of my temper and language, and have endeavoured to look into the mJ:Jierious condue! qj the ji:veral parties, with all the indifference!of .t1 fpee!ator, I find it ~.;ery difficult to form an exae! judgment of the mofl important events, or to ,[peak freely without qffence; therqore if any paf– jionate or angry writer j bould appear againfl this, or any o/' the former vo– lumes, I humbly requefl the reader to pay no regard to per:fonal refiee!ions, .or to ir!/i11Uations qf any ill dejigns againfl the ~flablijhedreligion, or the pub– lic peace ; •wbich are entirely groundlefs. I am as far from vindicating the jpirit and condue! of the warmer puritans, as if the governing prt– lates of thife times; there was hard meafure on both fides, though, if we Jeparate politics f rom principles of pure religion, tht balance will be very much in favcur of the puritans. In hijlorical debates, nothing is to be re– ceived upon truft, but faCts are to be examined, and a jydgment formed upon the authority by 7vbich thofe faC!s are {ztpported; by this method we · j1;all
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