An essay concerning obedience to the supreme powers, and the duty of subjects in all revolutions with some considerations touching the present juncture of affairs.

CHAP. XIV. Some Considerations touching the Present Affairs. (Book 14)

BUT it may be objected, How can the Nation propose any happi∣ness to themselves by this Revolution, since by it they are at so great Expences to maintain a war against so powerful an Enemy?

Answ. The more powerful the Enemy is, the greater was the necessity of this Revolution; for if now the Consederates are scarce an equal match for France, how easily would they have been over-run, if England (which is the most favourable that could

have been expected) had stood Neuter? And when they had been subdued, what could have hindred the French King, being then so Potent both by Sea and Land, from Conquering this Island? What opposition could the Militia, joyned with a few raw and unex∣perienced Troops, (for it is this War has made them otherwise) tho headed by a Commander of so invincible Courage as the Late King, make against his regular and numerous. Troops? But suppose the French King, who is so famous for keeping his Royal word, would not have Conquered England when he might; what could have hindred the Late King, assisted by France, from using this Nation as his Cruelty, Covetousness, Bigotry, or Jesuits, could have in∣spired him? The French King, had he been defective in so funda∣mental a point of Religion, would have obliged him, as he did the Duke of Savoy, to have Extirpated all the Hereticks. England would have been perhaps by this time a rendezvouz of French and Irish Apostolick Dragoons, or what is worse, a nest of Priests and Jesuits. And what milder usage can the Nation expect, if the Late King, who is under such obligation to France, and incensed by (as he thinks) ill Treatment, should return? Ought not they, except they are ambitious of being Roasted by a Smithfield Fire, or are in love with the manly exercise of Rowing in the Gallies, to do their utmost endeavour to stop the farther Progress of France? which only prevails because their Armies are more numerous? If there were more Forces raised (the Nation is so far from wanting men, that it can spare about Thirty thousand by easing the Parishes of those Idle People who are burthensom to them) sufficient to equal those of the French; there is no reason to doubt but the English would beat them, as they have always done, when the Numbers have been any thing near equal, and force them to quit other places as shamefully as they did Ireland.

The misfortune is not, that we have now a War with France, but that it was so long delayed; and whatever the Nation now suffers, they wholly owe it to the Two Late Kings, who instead of hindring, when they might, the growing greatness of France, did under-hand assist and contribute, as far as they durst, to in∣crease the exorbitant Power of that Kingdom. Though the Charges of the War, it is true, are burthensome, yet they are common to almost all Europe; nor are they so great as some people re∣present them, since it does cause little or no alteration in Peoples way of Living; the same excess in Apparel, and every thing else,

and the Interest of Money being as low as ever, (at least it would be so, did not the King's taking up such large Sums at so great an Interest, raise the Interest of Money even amongst others) are a de∣monstration of its plenty: And the Native Commodities of the Countrey bearing a much better Price than Formerly, chiefly by reason so much is taken up for the King's use upon account of the Army or Fleet, must more than repay the Countrey for what it con∣tributes to the War. The Taxes themselves are not so much a burden, as the unequal way of raising them, and obliging people to pay so much Money at one time; which cannot well be preven∣ted but by an Excise, which would make them so easy, and so equal, that they would hardly be felt. But if they were more burthensome then they are, then paying of them for some time is absolutely necessary to preserve their All for ever.

In the Primitive times, the Christians (especially the Clergy) would 〈◊〉〈◊〉 dispose of their own, but even what was Dedica∣ted to Pious Uses, and sell the Place that belonged to the Altar to redeem a Soul from Slavery: Why should they not be now as Zealous to secure Milions of Souls, Three Nations, and their Posterity, from a Bondage both Spiritual and Temporal worse than Egyptian; or at least encourage people by their precept and example freely to contribute to a War upon which depends the safety of the Church as well as State ▪ a War so holy, that if the Cause alone could make them Martyrs, all that dye in it are such.

But to conclude, I hope, I have demonstrated, That it is the du∣ty of all People to bear true Faith and Allegiance to the present Government, by Reasons and Arguments which are as firm as Go∣vernment it self, and which will endure as long as it, because built upon the same foundation, The Good of Societies; and which may serve for directions in all Changes and Revolutions, as well as for the justification of that happy one, which (by the Blessing of God upon His Majesties Heroick Endeavours) preserves us in the enjoy∣ment of all our Happiness both Spiritual and Temporal.

FINIS.

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