Chap. VI. The HI ST 0 R Y of the PuRITANS~ third remark is, that by an artifice, the moll: grofs confpiracies were in- .King vented which bad no manner of reality; or fuppofing they h~d, coculd no Ch:6~~.H. ways be charged on the prdbyterians, who were not to an1wer 10 r the~· crimes of other feets. On the other hand, hi!hop Kennet fays, " the world has reafon to ad- Rtmarl!s of '' mire not only the wifdom of this aCt, but even the moderation of it, bijhop Kdn- ; fi l zfi . l d I . net, " as being effeCtually made for mimperia con onmty a one, an eav111g " the people unable to complain of any impofition. And it would cer- " tainly have had the defired; and moft happy effeCt, of unity and peace . " (fays his lord!hip), if the government had been in earne!l: in the exe- p. z6z. " cution of it," Mull: the bleffings of unity and peace then be built &mar!ts. on the foundation of perfecution, plunder, perfidy, and the wa!l:es of confcience ? If his majefiy's declaration concerning ecclefia!l:ical affairs breathed the fpirit of true wifdom and charity, and ought to fiand for a pattern to pofierity, whenever they are difp0fed to h~al the breaches of the church (as the bifhop has elfewhere declared) where could be the wifdom Kennet, p. and moderation of this aCt, which turned out two thoujcmd miniflers into 246. the world to beg their bread upon fuch fevere terms? And whereas the biiliop fays, the people had no reafon to complain of impofition, was it no hardil1ip to be obliged to go to church, and join in a form of worlhip that went again!l: their confciences? Does not the aCt revive and confirm all the penal laws of queen Elizabeth and king James, in thefe words, " Be it farther enaCted, that the feveral good laws and fiatutes of this " realm, which have been formerly made, and are now in force for the " uniformity of prayers, and admini!l:ration of the facraments within. " this realm of England, and places aforefa id, £hall fiand in full force '' and firength to all intents and purpofes whatfoever, and fhall.be appli- " ed, pra<'J:ifed, and be put in ufe for the punilhing all offences contrary " to the faid law." Surely this mull: affeCt the laity! 'Tis more to be. admired in my opinion, that the clergy of England, and all officers both civil and military, could fubfcribe a decl aration which gave up the whole confiitution into the hands of an arbitrary prince ; for if the king had abolifhed the ufe of parliaments, and commanded his fubjeets to embrace the popi!h religion, which way could they have relieved themfelves~ when they had fworn, that it was not lawful to take up arms agai'!fo the king, or any commijjiomd by him, on any pretence whatfoever; on pain of high treafon? 'Tis hard to reconcile this doCtrine with the :REVOLUTION of king WILLIAM and queen MARY. I lhall only .. . add, that many of the moll: learned and judicious divines of the church have wifhed, for their own fakes,, that the aCt might be amended: and altered. Mr~
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