The English nonconformity as under King Charles II and King James II truly stated and argued by Richard Baxter ; who earnestly beseecheth rulers and clergy not to divide and destroy the land and cast their own souls on the dreadful guilt and punishment of national perjury ...

An Instance of the ACCUSATIONS which call for our Defence; (besides those in the Act for Banishment from Corporations, &c.)

Devon ss. Ad General. Quarterial. Session. Pacis Dom. Regis tent. apud Castr. Exon. in & pro Comitat. praed. Secundo die Octobris, Anno Regni Dom. nostri Caroli Secundi Dei gratia Angliae, Scotiae, Franciae, & Hiberniae Regis, Fidei Defen∣sor. &c. Tricessimo quinto, Annoque Dom. 1683.

WE have been so abundantly convinced of the Seditious and Rebellious Practices of the Sectaries and Phana∣ticks, who through the Course of above One hun∣dred years since we were first infested with 'em, have scarce afforded this unhappy Kingdom any interval of rest from their Horrid Treasons, as that we must esteem 'em, not only the open Enemies of our Established Government, but to all the common Principles of Society and Humanity it self. Wherefore, that we may prevent their Horrid Conspiracies for the time to come, and secure (as much as in us lies) our most Gracious KING and the GOVERNMENT from the Fury and Malice of 'em, we resolve to put the Severest of the Laws (which we find too Easie and Gentle, unless enlivened by a vigorous Execution) in force against 'em.

1. We Agree and Resolve, in every Division of this County, to require sufficient Sureties for the good Abearing and Peace∣able Behaviour of all such as we may justly suspect, or that we can receive any credible Information against, that they have been at any Conventicles and Unlawful Meetings, or at any Factious

or Seditious Clubs; or that have by any Discourses discovered themselves to be disaffected to the present Established Govern∣ment, either in Church or State; or that have been the Au∣thors or Publishers of any Seditious Libels; or that shall not in all things duely conform themselves to the present Established Government.

2. Because we have a sort of False Men, and more perfi∣dious than professed Phanatiques, who either wanting Cou∣rage to appear in their own shape, or the better to bring about their Treasonable Designs, privately Associate with, and en∣courage the Seditious Clubs of the Sectaries, and with them Plot heartily against the Government; and yet, that they may pass unsuspected, sometime appear in the Church with a false shew of Conformity, only to save their Money, and the better to serve their Faction: that we may (if possible) distinguish and know all such dangerous Enemies, we will strictly re∣quire all Church-wardens and Constables, at all our Monthly Meetings, to give us a full account of all such as do not every Sunday resort to their own Parish-Churches, and are not at the beginning of Divine Service, and do not behave themselves Orderly and Soberly there, observing all such de∣cent Ceremonies as the Laws enjoyn: And that they likewise Present unto us the Names of all such as have not received the Holy Sacrament of the Lord's Supper in their own Parish-Churches Thrice in the Year.

3. Being fully satisfied, as well by the clear Evidence of the late Horrid PLOT, as by our own long and sad Ex∣perience, That the Nonconformist Preachers are the Authors and Fome••••ers of this Pestilent Faction, and the implacable Enemies of the Established Government, and to whom the late Execrable Treasons, which have had such dismal effects in this Kingdom, are principally to be imputed, and who by their present obstinate refusing to Take and Subscribe an Oath and Declaration, That they do not hold it Lawful to take up ARMS against the KING, and that they will not endeavour any Alteration of Government either in Church or State; do ne∣cessarily enforce us to conclude, that they are still ready to engage themselves, (if not acutally engaged) in some Rebel∣lious Conspiracy against the KING, and to invade and Sub∣vert

his GOVERNMENT: wherefore we resolve in eve∣ry Parish of this County, to leave strict Warrants in the hands of all Constables, for the Seizing of such Persons. And as an encouragement to all Officers and others, that shall be instru∣mental in the apprehending of any of them, so as they may be brought to Justice, we will give and allow Forty shil∣lings, as a Reward, for every Nonconformist Preacher that shall be so secured. And we Resolve to Prosecute them, and all other such Dangerous Enemies of the Government, and common Absenters from Church, and Frequenters of CONVENTICLES, according to the Directions of a Law made in the Five and Thirtieth Year of the Reign of Queen ELIZABETH, Entituled, An Act for the keeping Her Majesties Subjects in due OBEDIENCE.

Lastly, That we may never forget the infinite Mercies of Almighty God, in the late Wonderful Deliverance of our Gracious KING, and his Dearest BROTHER, and all His Loyal Subjects, (who were designed for a Massacre) from the Horrid Conspiracy of the Phanatiques, and their Accomplices; and that we may perpetuate as well our own Thankfulness, as their Infamy, that the Generations to come may know their Treachery, and avoid and never trust men of such Principles more; and also, that we our selves may perform our publick Duty to Almighty God, before we enter upon the Publick Service of our Countrey: We Or∣der, Resolve, and Agree, with the Advice and Concur∣rence of the Right Reverend Father in God, our much Ho∣noured and Worthy Lord BISHOP, to give and bestow for the Beautifying of the Chappel in the Castle of EXON, and for the erecting of decent Seats there, Ten Pounds: And we will likewise give and continue Six Pounds to be paid yearly to any one of the Church of Exon, whom the said Lord BISHOP shall appoint, to read the DIVINE SERVICE, with the Prayers lately appointed for the day of Thanksgiving on the Ninth of September last, and to Preach a Sermon exhorting to OBEDIENCE, in the said Chappel, on the first day of every general Quarter-Sessions of the Peace held in the said Castle, to begin precisely at Eight of the Clock in the Morning.

And may the Mercies of Heaven (which are infinite) al∣ways protect our Religious and Gracious KING, his Dearest BROTHER, and every Branch of that ROYAL FAMILY; and may all the Treasonable Conspiracies of those Rebellious Schismaticks be always thus happily prevented.

Hugo Vaughan, Cler. Pacis Com. praed.

That the continued Care of His Majesties Iustices of the Peace for the County of DEVON, for the Safety of His Ma∣jesties Sacred Person, the Preservation of the Publick Peace, and advancement of true Religion, may be fuller known, and have a better Effect; I do hereby Order and Require all the CLERGY of my Diocess within the County of Devon, deliberately to publish this Order, the next Sunday after it shall be tendred to them.

THO. EXON. (Now Archbishop of York.)