798 "'heHISTORY of the PuRITANs. Vot. II. ·V:i;7fam though the prince of Orange was king de fac?o, contrary to the plain and ftuecn meaning o~ the words ; but the clergy ~roke through all thefe fetters .Mary. (fays the b1fhop), t~ the reproach of thw prof~ffion: And the prevari1689. catwn of fo many m fo facred a matte r, contnbuted not a little to the ~ athcifm of the age. Indeed they had embarked fo far in their dothines of abfolute jubmijji111, and the divine right of monarchy, that they knew not how to difengage themfelves with honour or confcience. Many fuf, fered the time limited for taking the oaths to elapfe, and yet officiated af– terwards contrary to hw. They threatened the church with a ntw fe– paration, which terrified the moderate clergy, and put a fiop to all amend– ments of the liturgy for the eafe of di!Tenters, left the non jurors fhould gain over great numbers of the laity, by pretending to abide by the old liturgy, in oppofition to the reformed one. Thus the non·conformifl:s were fold to the jacobites, by the timidity of their real friends; for the high church party difcovered an irreconcileable enmity to an accommoda– tion, and feemed only to wifh for an occafion to renew old feverities; Thofe who had moved for a comprehenfion, and brought the bill into the houfe of lords, atl:ed a very difingenuous part (fays Burnet), for while they fiudied to recommend themfelves, by feeming to countenance the bill, they fet on their friends to oppofe it, reprefenting the favourers of it, as enemies to the church. When the king came to the houfe, March 1 6, he made the following fpeech. My lords and gentlemm, His majejly " N 0 W I have occafion of coming hither to pafs thefe bills, I recommends " fhall put you in mind of one thing which will conduce much qualifying all'' to our fettlement, as a fettlement will to the difappointment of our his protejlant « enemies, I am, with all the expedition I can, filling up the vacancies Jubjtfls for jerving the " that are in the offices and places of trufl: by this late revolution.. I government. '' hope you are fenlible there is a neceffity of fome law, to fettle the Gazette, " .oaths to be taken by all perfons to be admitted to fuch places. I re– No 2436• " comm.end it to your care, to make a fpeedy provifion for it ; and as I " doubt not but you will fufficiently provide againfl: papifis, fo I hope " you will leave room for the admijjioll of all protefiants that are willing and " able to ferve. This conjuntl:ion in my fervice, will tend to the better " uniting you among yourfelves, and the firengthening you againfl: your 'cc common enemies." It appears by this, that king William was for tak– ing off the tifl, and abrogating th~ penal laws, as far as rel~ted to dif– fenting proteftants, though the parhament were of another mmd. When
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