ing." The letter goes on to infinuate, " that fome minifters had been bribed " into the meafures of the court; that they were under engagements; " and impowered to give rewards to others, where they could not per– " fuade. Now if thefe or others (hould preach up anger and vengeance " againft the church of E ngland, ought they not rather to be fufpected " of corruption, than to act according to judgment;-- if they who " thank the king for his declaration, awuld be engaged to juil:ify it in '' point of law, I am perfuaded 'tis more than the addreffers are capa· " ble of doing-- there is a great difference between enjoying quietly '· the advantage of an act irregularly done by others, and becoming ad– " vacates for it ; but frailties are to be excufed --take ~varning by the " mijtake of the church if England, whm after the riftoration they pre– " Jerved Jo long the bitter tafle of your rough ufage to them, that it made " them forget their interdf, and facrifice it to their revmge --if you " had now to do with rigid prelates, the argument might be fair on your " fide, but fince the common danger has fo laid open the miil:ake, that " all former haughtinefs towards the diffenters is for ever extinguiihed, " and the fpirit of perfecution is turned into a fpirit of peace, charity, " and condefcenfion, will you not be moved by fuch an example? - If " it be faid, the church is only;humble when 'tis out of power; the an– " fwer is, that is uncharitable, and an unfeafonable triumph ; befides; " it is not fo in fact, for if ihe would comply with the court, £he could " turn all the thunder upon yourfelves, and blow you off the il:age wi th " a breath; but £he will not be refcued by fuch unjuftifiable means - " you have formerly very juil:ly blamed the church of England, for going " too far in her compliance with the court; conclude therefore that you '' muft break off your friend!hip, or fet no bounds to it - the church " is now convinced of its error, in being too fevere to you ; the next " parliament will be gentle to you; the next heir is bred in a count ry " famous for indulgence; there is a general agreement of thinking men, " that we muft no more cut ourfelves off from foreign proteil:ants, but " enlarge our foundations; fo that all things confpire to give you eafe " and fatisfacrion, if you do not too much anticipate it. T o concl ude, " the lhort queftion is, whether or no you will join with thofe, who " muft in the end run the fame fate with you? If the protefiants of ail " forts, have been to blame in their behaviour to each other, they are up– " on equal terms, and for that very reafon ought now to be reconcil:.. " ed, --~ How juft foever the reafoning of this letter may be, either
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