The state of the Protestants of Ireland under the late King James's government in which their carriage towards him is justified, and the absolute necessity of their endeavouring to be freed from his government, and of submitting to their present Majesties is demonstrated.

SECT. I. Shewing the Possibility of a Kings designing the Destruction of his Subjects.

1. I Have in the former Chapter shewed, that it is lawful for a Prince to interpose between another Prince and his Subjects, if he attempt to destroy them; I promised in the second place to shew, that the late King designed and endeavoured to destroy, and utterly ruin the Protestant Religion and English Interest in Ireland, and to alter the very Frame and Constitution of the Government. This I look on as the most material point of our Apology, and to need the most clear and full proof: for Jealousies and Fears in such a Case ought not to pass for Arguments, or be brought into com∣petition with a certain and plain Duty, that is, with Obedience to lawful Governors. The Arguments therefore brought by Subjects to prove their Governors Design to destroy them in those Interests, to preserve which is the only Reason of Mens desiring or submitting to Government; ought to be so plain and evident, that the Conscience of Mankind cannot but see and be convinced of their Truth; especially the generality of the Subjects themselves ought to be fully satisfied and acquiesce in them.

2. I know 'tis commonly objected, Who shall be Judge? And for this Reason alone some conclude it can never be lawful to make any opposition against a Governor, or to side with a Deliverer that comes only to rescue miserable Subjects; but I

answer, there are some Cases so plain, that they need no Judge at all: every Man must be left to judge for himself; and for his Integrity he must be answerable to God and his own Con∣science. Matters of Fact are often of this Nature, and I take this to be one of them; for either the People must be left to judge of the Designs of their Governor by what they see and feel from him, or else they must be obliged to a blind and ab∣solute Submission, without employing their understanding in the case. And I dare appeal to all the World, whether it be safer to leave it to the Judgments and Consciences of a whole Kingdom to determine concerning the Designs of their Go∣vernor, or to leave it to the Will and Conscience of the King, whether he will destroy them. One of these is unavoidable; and I am assured it is less probable, that the Generality of a Kingdom will concur in a Mistake of this Nature, and less mischievous if they should mistake, than that a King by Weak∣ness, wicked Counsellors, or false Principles, should design to make his People Slaves, subvert the ancient Government, or destroy one part of his People, whom he hates, in favour of another.

3. That a Prince may design to destroy his Subjects (tho the Asserters of Absolute Passive Obedience would make it an incredible Thing) is so far from being impossible, that it is very common, of which there are so many Examples, both ancient and modern, that it is a wonder, that Men, who know any thing of History, should overlook them. Nero, Caligula, Domitian, Maximinus, Heliogabalus, Commodus, not only en∣deavoured, but professed it; and some of them were mighti∣ly concerned, that it was not in their power to accomplish it. No longer ago than the time of Philip the Second of Spain, we have an Example of a Christian King no better than those Heathens. Whoever reads the Story of his dealing with the Low Countries, must confess, that he design'd the utter De∣struction of the Laws and Liberties of those People; and that in particular he was resolved, that not one Protestant should be left alive amongst them. The same▪ has been designed and effected in a great measure by the present French King against his Protestant Subjects, and he must have a great share either of Impudence or Stupidity, that can deny this Prince to have

designed and purposely contrived that destruction; and by the same Rule that a Man can be so wicked and barbarous as to design the destruction of a third or fourth part of his People, he may design the destruction of the greatrr part, if they will be such Fools as to suffer him to effect it.