xviii P R E F A C E. rivalled the flate, but in a little time lifted up its head above emperors and kings, and all the potentates of the earth: 'Ihe thunder of its anathema's was heard in all nations, and in her Jkirts was found the blood of the prophets, and faints, and of all that were flain upon the earth. And whenever it recovers the qvound that was given it at the reformation, it will undoubtedly rifume the fame abfolute coercive dominion. It is tbere– fore the intere/l qj all Jovereign princes, to keep their clergy within the li– mits that Cbrijl bas prejcribed them in the new tefl:ament, and not to trujl them with the power qf inflicting corporal pains or penalties on their fub– jects, which ha~;e no relation to the chriflian methods of convnjion; FouRTHLy, Reformation of religion, or a redrefs of grievances in the church, has not in fact ari'fen from the clergy. I would not be thought to reflect upon that venerable order, which is of great ufefulnefl, and de– firved honour, when tbe ends of its in/litution are purfued; but Jo /lrange has been the iifatuation, jo enchanting the lujl if dominion, and the charms of riches and honour, that the propagation if piety and virtue has been very much neglected, and little e!fe thought oj; but how they might rife higher in the authority and grandeur of this world, and fortify their jfrong holds againfl all that jhou!d attack them. In the dawn of the refor– mation, the clergy mai11tained tbe pope's fupremacy againfl the king, till they were cafl in a prremunire. In the reign of queen ELIZABETH there ·was but one if the whole bench, who would join in the conftcration of a protefiant biihop ; and when the reformation was eflablifhed, how cruelly did thrfe proteftant bifhops, who themfelves had fu.lfered for religion, vex the puritans, becaife they could not come up to their jlandard. How un– frimdb• did they behave at the Hampton- Court conference! At the refl:o– ration of king Charles II. a11d at the late revolution of king William and queen Mary ! wben the mqjl Jolemn promifes were broken, and the maft hcpejul opportunity if accommodating differences among proteftants loll, by the perverjenefl if the clergy towards thofe very men, who hadjaved them from ruin. So little ground is there to hope for an union among chrifliam, or the prcpagation of truth, peace, and charity, from councils, fynods, general a!femblies, or convocations of the clergy, if any fort whatjo– tver. FIFTHLY, Upon thife principles it is evident, that freedom of reli– gion, in fubordination to the civil power, is for the benefit of fociety, and no ways inconfiil:ent with a public efl:abli!hment. 'The king may create dignitaries, and give jitjjicient encouragement to thrfe if the public religion, without invading the liberties if his dijfenting fubjeC!s. If r·eli– gious eflablijhments were j!ript if their judicial proceffes, and civil jurifdittion,
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=