AN APOLOGIE FOR THE Church of England, Against the CLAMOURS Of the Men of No-Conscience.

THAT the House of Commons now Elected, and within a very fews day to Sit, is one of the most Loyal that this Nation has seen at any time since the Death of Queen Elizabeth, is I suppose not doubted by any Man who has at all considered either who has Chosen them, or who has been Chosen.

Whence then proceeds the insufferable Insolence and Im∣petuosity of the Dissenters from the Church of England just at this time, and where may one guess the Design to ter∣minate?

Liberty of Conscience is no new Plea, it has fed the Press, yea and maintain'd many of its Patrons too almost ever since the Year 1660. For before that time, we had no great kind∣ness for the Doctrine, but only in relation to those who had Page  4 imbroyl'd three Nations in Blood and Misery; and yet all they could not find in their hearts to allow it to their own dear Brethren neither, for the Presbyterians opposed, and both wrote and Preached what they could against it, as has been proved beyond a possibility of Contradiction from their own Prints; and when they were reduced to so low a Condition, that they could neither grant nor deny it, Oliver Crom∣well and the Independant Party would never grant this Li∣berty, either to the Roman Catholicks, or to the Members of the Church of England; and which was more than Bar∣barous, they would not suffer CHARLES the First of Bles∣sed Memory, when under restraint by them, to have any one of his own Chaplains with him, which Extorted this bitter Complaint from him. To deny me the Ghostly Com∣fort * of my Chaplains, seems a greater Rigour and Barbarity than is ever used by Christians to the meanest Prisoners and grea∣test Malefactors, whom tho' the Justice of the Law deprived of world∣ly Comforts, yet the Mercy of Religion allows them the Benefit of their Clergy, as not aiming at once to destroy their Bodies and to damn their Souls. But my Agony must not be relieved with the Presence of any one good Angel; for such I account a Lear∣ned, Godly, and Discreet Divine. And a little before this, he has this Expression.

The Solitude they have confin'd me unto, adds the Wilderness to my Temptations; for the Company they obtrude upon me, is more sad than any Solitude can be.

When after this they had inhumanly Murthered him and the Duke of Richmond, the Marquess of Hertford, and the Earls of Southampton and Lindsey, together with the Bishop of London, had taken upon them the Care and Charge of Inter∣ring their Murdered Master, and thereupon Petitioned with great Humility to have Liberty to Read the Liturgie ap∣pointed for that Purpose; it was denyed, and they forced to Deposite him in Silence and Sorrow.

How the English Puritans treated the Son after the Death of the Father, is very well known, but they of Scotland pre∣tended to oblige him, Call'd him in, and promised to Crown him. But did they allow him the Liberty of his Conscience? No, he must take the Covenant first, and be converted. And one Evening walking in the Garden, a couple of Dapper Covenant-Levites Page  5 making up to him, very severely chid him for Profaning * the Lords Day by a Walk, tho' he had heard two Sermons, and been publickly at Morning and Evening Prayers that day, besides other private Meditations he was much given to. This was all the Liberty of Conscience they would allow their Prince in Scotland; whereas in England they sought his Blood.

How they treated the Episcopal or Prelatical Party during the Rebellion is well enough remembred, and after the King was restored, and the Laws thereby return'd to their for∣mer Force and Vigor, yet they pretended even then, to fear they had sinn'd against the Lord, by suffering Popery (so they call'd the Service of the Church of England) to be set up; and did what they could to hinder it. Till an Act of Parliament brought them under. And ever since the Act of Uniformity passed, they have been Bauling for Liberty of Conscience.

At length in the beginning of 1672, they by the assistance of the Roman Catholicks, obtained an Indulgence of the Late King, what use did they make of it? Why, one of the fu∣rious Dissenters suspected the kindness, and made Queries upon the Declaration, wherein he represented it as a Stratagem to introduce Pope•y and Arbitrary Government. And though there were others which defended it with that inconveni∣ence annexed to it, till they were in a Capacity to do their own business without them; yet after they had set a foot the Popish Plot, and possess'd themselves of the Affections of the Populace, then the Note was altered, and the Papists (was * declared) one whose Worship to us is Idolatry, and we cannot therefore allow them the Liberty of Publick Assembling, as others of the Separation. This very passage but five years before was Worded thus. But as for the Common Papist, who lives Innocently in his way, he is to us (the Dissenters) as other Sepa∣ratists, and so comes under the like Toleration. So in 1675 it was lawful to tolerate the Popish Recusants, because they could not be Tolerated themselves without their assistance: But in 1680. when they were in their Ruff, and had as they thought, brought all under their Feet, then it was un∣lawful. And now again in 1685. it is not only become Lawful, but absolutely necessary. These are your Men of Conscience!

Page  6 I pray what was the pretended Reason for Excluding His present Majesty? Resolved, Nemine contradicente,

That the Duke of York's being a Papist, and the hopes of his * coming such to the Crown, hath given the greatest countenance and encouragement to the present Designs and Conspiracies against the King and Protestant Religion.

Resolved,

That a Bill be brought in to disable the Duke of York to inherit the Imperiul Crown of this Realm.

Well, but one of them tells us, Now. Who knows not, that * they were such as hardly knew how to Pray, but out of our Liturgy, that attempted to Exclude the Presumptive Heir to the Crown, upon the score of his Religion. Another follows the cry thus, Let him (the Answerer) be just, and he will find the Excluders almost eve∣ry Sunday at their Parish Churches, and if three quarters of them were to pray for their Lives, it may be they could better read their Clergy, than say their Prayers without the Publick Liturgy. The other quarter tho' were gifted Brethren in this Gentleman's esteem, whereas with the former they were all Church of England Men.

Why the Author of Julian the Apostate will tell you, the Ad∣dressers, with a brave and warm Zeal for the Protestant Religion, * and a Protestant Prince, generously offered their Lives and Fortunes, and the last drop of Blood in defence of his Majesty, and the Religi∣on now Established by Law, and by the same Lives and Fortunes and last drop of Blood, are promised over again to a Popish Succes∣sour. What is this (saith he) but clapping cold Snow upon the head of all their Protestant Zeal? For he that offers his Service to both these together, lists himself under two the most Adverse Par∣ties in the World, and is Guelph and Gibeline both at once. What Benefit a Popish Successour can reap from Lives and Fortunes spent in defence of the Protestant Religion, he may put in his Eyes: And what the Protestant Religion gets by Lives and Fortunes spent in the Service of a Popish Successor, will be over the left Shoulder.

The poor Levice was fain to rifle the Alcoran for a simile to represent this Contradiction by. Now, Gentlemen, were these Addressers Church of England Men, or Dissenters? Was this Book cryed up by Whiggs or Tories? It is but five years ago since the Vote pass'd, less since Julian was Printed; rub up your Memories, and try if you can possibly recollect who was Page  7 for the Exclusion, and who was against it. Who addressed to the Oxford Members, and who to the King, after the Dis∣solution of the Oxford Parliament, and then tell me, if your Fore-heads be not a little steel'd to talk at this rate; and whereabouts a Dissenters Conscience may be found, before we allow it Liberty.

Well, but Liberty of Conscience is the thing they want, and must have it if it be possible; but all the Craft is in the catching; now they know that the Law stands in the way, and how to get rid of that is the difficulty.

First, They accost the King, and impudently tell him, that they, good Men, never attempted to Exclude him, and the consequence is, that he must grant them Liberty of Conscience. Why, if they had never attempted it, this was but a Negative Obligation and goes no further, than if I should accost a Great Man I never saw before, and beg a Favour, because I never did him an Injury. But here the King knows the con∣trary, that they did attempt to Exclude him, and had certain∣ly passed an Act to that purpose, if the late King had not, with the assistance of the Lords, and Loyal true Church of England Men, oppos'd and baffled them.

Well, but suppose he would help them to the thing they want, there are established Laws in his way, and he cannot repeal them, but by other Laws, and they must pass in Parliament, and by the Consent of the Lords and Commons, and time enough it had been to have made their Application to him and them in Parliament; but of what use are these numerous Pamphlets in the mean time, but to fire the Rabble, make them ungovernable?

And suppose the King should, to gratifie them, do it by his Prerogative, without Act of Parliament, as the late King did, what Reason hath he to expect any other return than his Brother found, and that is to be represented forth∣with to the Nation, as one that designed to introduce Arbi∣trary Government and Popery, and so to have his Throne undermin'd, and his Government made unsafe and un∣easie.

And in the mean time have they not gone as far as they could, or durst, since his Establishment, to imbroyl his af∣fairs, to chuse those very Men into this Parliament, that en∣deavoured Page  8 to Exclude him in three last. And is there not now Arms bought, and Ships put to Sea, to the intent to in∣vade his Dominions, by those of this Party, that have fled for attempting to Murder him at the Rie, with his Brother the late King? And have they not endeavoured to recommend his Rival to the People here, tho' there was no body to back them. And after all this, is it reasonable that he should loose the Reins, and give Liberty to such enraged, false, perfidious Men as these are, who have done what they could to ruin him, in spite of all restraint? Believe me, they expect no such thing from him, but make all the impudent applications to make him more odious to the Party, by his denial.

Well, they seem to have little reason to expect any favour from the King, but what Friends may they expect in the States in this Parliament.

As to the Church of England Lords and Commons, they have laid the Bill of Exclusion at their Doors, turn'd over all the Excluders to them, and washed their own hands of them, as Pilot did of our Saviour's Blood, with a See you to it, I am innocent: Now, as this is the most impudent falshood that e∣ver was spoken by Men, so it is the basest Reproach, the basest dishonour, and, I doubt not, but they will accordingly resent it, when time shall serve.

But many, I might say almost all the Commons, have been most basely traduced by these Men, for sticking to the King against the Excluders; many of them were excluded out of the Westminster and Oxford Parliament for Papists, Abhor∣rers, and Favourers of Papists; or as the word was Adherents to the Papists; many of them have been sent for up into Custo∣dy, * turn'd out of the House with Disgrace, imprison'd and put to great Charges for their Loyalty, all of them have been designed for Slaughter and Ruin, as MEN-WORTHY by the WORTHY-MEN. And after all this, can they expect they will throw up the Laws, and put themselves into the power of these Furies? Is this the way to bespeak their Pity, or obtain their Favour?

As to the Bishops, which make the other part of the up∣per House, what Injury could the Wit of Man devise, which in the time of the late Popish Plot they did not heap upon them, to make them odious to the King, and to the People? Page  9 Did they not dispute their Priviledges in Parliament, en∣deavour to make them appear guilty of the Plot, did they not traduce them as this Kings fast Friends, and therefore Enemies to the Protestant Religion?

And in all the late Pamphlets have they not represented them, as the worst of Men, together with the rest of the Loyal Clergy? Take off the thing that pinches, take off Prosecu∣tion, * do but change the Saddles, and set them both aright, and see then whether the Church-men, or the Fanaticks and Catholicks will be most Governable. That is, persecute the Church-men, and bestow the Bishoppricks, and Church Revenues amongst the Catholicks and Phanaticks, and see which will be best quali∣ted, best pleased, most Humble, and most Dutiful Subjects. A rare expedient!

Well, but when all other helps fails, they expect some assistance from the Roman Catholicks. His Grace leads the Dance, and shews some kindness for Transubstantiation, page the 7th. The Reply tells, One thing I must say, Roman Catholicks have been Loyal in England and Holland, and Presbyterians in France, and the German Principalities, page 22. Well, but how have you and your Tribe rewarded them for their Loyalty? Another thus, As a variety of Flow∣ers may grow on the same Bank, so may Protestants and Papists live in England, Ʋnion in Affection is not inconsistent with disa∣greement of Opinion, &c. Considerations moving to a Toleration and Liberty of Conscience, page the 3d, Consideration the 6th. The Pensilvanian tells us, he cannot but admire His (the An∣swerer's) Wisdom, Manners, or Justice, in his Reflections upon the Roman Catholicks, after the Assurances that so great an one of their Communion has given him and his Friends of their Securi∣ty and Protection, page the 26th. And now, are not the Roman Catholicks bound to give him thanks for his great Civility to them, who have done worse, both by them, and the great Man of their Communion, than barely to reflect on them, though they have done that sufficiently too. Remember the Character of a Popish Successor, the Virulent Appeal to the City, Julian the Apostate, the Fanatick Plot, the use these Good Men made of the late Toleration, and tell me if these are not a sort of Trusty Friends for Roman Catholicks to rely on.

Doubtless it is as little their interest to procure a Tolera∣tion Page  10 for the Dissenters, as it is that of the Church Men, as things now stand, and they are wise Men, and know it; and if the Liberty of Conscience-Men were not Num-skulls, they would never have made these fulsome Applications at this time of the day.

Well, but whatever the Dissenters have been, there are three or four small Pamphleteers will give the King their worshipful words for their good behaviour for the Future, In good time. But suppose it proves otherwise, what then? Why he is deceived, they good Men will cry, who could have thought it? But I will answer this in the Words of the Noble Peer, the late Earl of Shaftsbury, a special Friend of theirs. If a French Nobleman (saith he) should come to dwell in my House and Family, I should think it concern'd me to a•k what he * did in France, for if he were there a Felon, a Rogue, a Plunderer, I should desire hem to live else-where, and I hope your Lordships will do the same thing for the Nation, if you find the same cause. Now there is no need of an enquiry here, we have tryed them, and know by experience, what they are, and then his Lordship will inform us what we are to do.

But we are told, all the ill things they have done, is be∣cause there are Laws made against them, and they would be quiet, if they might have their minds. As to the first of these, ex malis Moribus bonae oriuntur Leges, there was ill and disloyol Practices against the State, by Seditious Sectaries, be∣fore there was any Law made against them. Look into the preamble of the 35 of Eliz. c. 1. which was the first Law that was made against them, and see if be not so; and as for all the rest, we can remember upon what occasions they were made.

And now, if they were so turbulent before there was any Law, and have been so unruly and ungovernable, notwith∣standing the Laws have hung over their Heads, and have some times been seasonably Executed upon them, what may we ex∣pect they will be, when the Laws, and, with them, all Fear and Aw is removed?

Men of Wisdom will try as few Conclusions in point of Government as is possible, because they weaken Authority and strengthen Factions. And I am fully perswaded, these Gentlemen do no more hope to obtain a Toleration, than I Page  11 fear they will; they do neither Write nor Act as if they did: What then is the Design? Why it is hard to dive into the Secrets of Men, but yet a Man may conjecture at them with submission to wiser Heads.

First, upon his now Majesties coming to the Crown, the whole Party were Thunder-struck, they knew how they had used him, and therefore expected he would treat them, tho' not as they deserved, yet otherwise than they desired, and fearing at once his Valour, Justice, Activity and Constancy, they sat down in Silence and Sorrow, expecting the Event, and who would be in an Insurrection.

Hereupon all the Trimmers and Half-way Men began to tack about, to take the Sacrament, go to Church, Vote for Loyal Men, imagining the Game was lost, and no hopes of a∣nother Revolution. No room for Seditious prate, Cogging nor Flattery.

In this Melancholly Mood his Grace found them when he Published his Essay, and it was a Work which no meaner Person durst have began. But we see there is enough that will follow.

Secondly, the Parliament drawing on apace, they expect the Press will then be restrain'd, so that what they do, they must do quickly; for their Affairs are desperate and meer desperation, makes them Valiant, and if they cannot prevent the fatal Blow, they will yet try if they cannot Revenge it, and render the Church Party odious.

Lastly, it is very probable they have some encouragement from their Friends in Holland, and whilst they are preparing for a descent in Scotland, this is a Stratagem to Alarm the Par∣ty in England, and to let them see the Cause is not quite lost yet; there are those that will stick to it, and appear for Liber∣ty of Conscience, Hector the Church, and plead for a forgetful∣ness of what ever is past, that they may be in a Capacity to react all their old Crimes over again.

And if they meet with the least encouragement either at home or abroad, the least countenance or belief, I can easily foretel what the Event will be.

But if they find neither to suite their desires, and that the next Parliament prove what they fear it will, the People of the Whig Party must bear the smart, and the Pamphleteers have only lost so much Paper and Time.

Page  12 And if any of the Tribe fall into the Hands of Justice for it, they hope to get more by the Compassion, than they shall lose by the Suffering.