The HISTORYofthePuaiTANS. VoL 11. King When the above-mentioned bill was brought into the houfe DecemCha rles I I. 1. t' 1d "' fi · · h · ·•n • eJl b· 1680 . oer 2 r, en Itu e an a,_, or umtzng ts maJIJ'Y s prote ant fu?JeCls, the ~ fidl: gentleman of the court party who fpoke againll: it obfer ved, " that Spe~ches. " there were a fort of men who would nei ther be advifed nor overfaa:1trJ" " ruled, but under the pretence of confcience break violently through .9 99 , ' P· " all laws whatfoever, to the great diil:urbance both of church and " !late; therefore he thought it more convenient to have a law, for " forcing the diJTenters to yield to the church, and not to force the " church to yield to them -" Another faid, " he was afrai d, that " if once the government fhould begin to yield to the diJTenters, it " would be as in forty one, nothing would ferve but an utter fubverlion; " the receiving of one thing would give occafion for demanding more; " and it would be impoilible to give them any fatisfaetion without lay– " ing all open, and running into confnfion." This was the common language of the tories. And there has been a loud cry againfi the dif– fenters, for their obflinacy and perverfenefs, though not a fingle concef– fion had been offered fince the rerloration, to let the world fee how far they would yield ; or by receiving a denial, to get an oppportunity to re– proach them with greater advantage. But in favour of the bill it was Others i~fa- urged by others, " that it was intended for the prefervation of the vour of 11 ' . " church, and the befi bill that could be made in order thereto, all " circumflances confidered - If we are to deal with a il:ubborn fort " of people, who in many things prefer their humour before reafon, " or their own fafety, or the public good, this is a very good time to " fee, whether they will be drawn by the cords of love or no. The " bill will be very agreeable to the chrifiian charity which our church " profeJTes; and it may be hoped, that in the time of this imminent '' danger, they will confider their own fafety, and the fafety of the pro– " teflant religion, and no longer keep a-foot the unhappy divilions a– " mong us, on which the papifls ground their hopes; but when they " fee the church fo far condefcend, as to difpenfe with the ji.trplice, and " thofe other things they Ji:ruple, that they will fubmit to the rel1 which " are enjoined by law, that fo we may unite againfi the common ene– " my. But if this bill ihould not have the defired effeCt, but on the " cont_rary, the difienters fhould continue thei r animofities and difobeJt is /qfl, and a bill for a " dience to the church, I think fiill the church will gain very much to/nation, or '' hereby, and leave the party without excufe -" This feems agree– eafing them able to reafon. from the peh '!I l fi • d . d'd r. nalties of 35 Although t e b1 for a comprnen 1on w~s comm1tte , It 1 not pa,s Eliz. introthe houfe, being changed for another, entituled, an aCI to exempt his duced. ma)efiy's protdJant fubjeCis, di!Jenting from the church of England, from Burnet, p. the penalties impofed upon the papifls by the aCI of 35th Eliz. By which ~ ill
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