Chap. vn. The HIs T 0 R y of the Pul'I.ITANS.I 6+3 " partiC!s ; liberty of confcience was their profeffion, but when a feffion Ch{;f;! IL "of parliament came, and the king wanted money, then a new fevere I66 2 • " law againfi the diifenters was offered to the angry men of the ~ " church party, as the price of it; and this feldom failed to have its " effeCt; fo t hat they were like the jewels of the crown, pawned " when the king needed money, but redeemed at the next proro- " gation." The fame prelate obferves in another performance, " that the firfi fpi– " rit of feverity was heightened by the praCtices of the papifl:s --that " many church-men who underfiood not the principles of human fociety, " and the rules of the englijhgovernment, writ feveral ex travagant treatifes " about the meafores qf fitbmijjion; that the diifenters were put to great '' hardlhips in many parts of England." But concludes, that " he mull: " have the brow of a jefuit that can call: this 7vhqily upon the church of "England, and free the court qf it. Upon the whole matter (fays his cc lordfhip), it is evident, that the paffions and infirmities of feme of th~ " church of England being unhappily fiirred up by the diifeniers, they " were fatally conduCted by the popilh party, to be the infiruments of do– cc ing a great deal of mifchief." But to go on with the hifiory: Three days after the aCt of uniformity No~c~nf took place, the iilenced minifiers prefented a petition to his majefiy for a fttztzon for toleration, by the hands of Dr. Manton, Dr. Bates, and Mr. Calamv, to '{(~ugh~~'f,. this effeCt; that " having had former experience of his majefiy's clemen753 • " cy and indulgence, fome of the London minill:ers, who are like to be " deprived of all future u(efulnefs by the late aCt of uniformity, humbly call: " themfelves at his majefi:y's feet, defiring him of his princely wifdom to " take feme effeCtual courfe, that they may be continued in their minif- " try, to teach his people obedience to God and his majell:y; and they " doubt not but by their dutiful and peaceable behaviour, they lhall ren- " der themfelves not altogether unworthy of fo great a favour." The matter being debated next day in council, his majefly gave his opinion for an indulgence, if it was feaiible. Others were for conniving at K. Chron. , the more eminent divines, and putting curates into their churches P· 73°> 742~ to read the fervice, till they fhould die off: This was the opiniori of the earl of Manchdfer, who urged it with a great deal of earnefinefs; but lord Clarendon was for the flriet execution of the law; " Surely (fays Parker's <• he), there cannot be too intent a care in kings and princes, to preferve hift. P· 29, " and maintain all decent forms and ceremonies both in church and-fbite cc which keeps up the reverente due to religion,. as well as the duty and cc dignity due to the g_overnment and ,the majell:y of kings." Biiliop She!: Burnet, P• don was of the fame llde, and declarea, that if the aa:· was fufpend ed he 192. could not maintain his epifcopal authority; that this would rerider tl1e le4 N 2 g1fiature
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