A LETTER of several French Ministers Fled into Germany upon the account of the PERSECUTION in France, to such of their Bre∣thren in England as approved the Kings Declaration touching Liberty of Conscience. Translated from the Original in French.

ALtho' in our present Dispersion, most dear and honoured Brethren, it has pleased the Providence of God to conduct us into places very distant from one another: Yet that Union which ought always to continue betwixt us, obliges us to declare our sense to one another with a Christian and Brotherly Freedom upon all occa∣sions, that may present themselves to us so to •… 'Tis this makes us hope that you will not take •… amiss of us, if at this time we deliver our Opinion to you touching the Affairs of England in matter of Religion, and with reference to that Conduct which you have observed therein.

We ought not to conceal it from you, •… Page  70 greatest part of the Protestants of Europe have been extreamly scandalized to understand, that certain among you, after the example of many of the Dissenters, have Addressed to the King of England, upon the account of his Declaration, by which he •… granted Liberty of Conscience to the No-ncon∣formists: And that some others who had already ranked themselves under the Episcopal Communi∣on, nevertheless published the said Declaration in their Churches; and this at a time when almost all the Bishops themselves with so much Firmness •… Courage refused to do it.

If we may be permitted to tell you freely what •… Opinion is concerning the conduct of the Bi∣shops and of the Dissenters in this conjuncture, we shall make no difficulty to pronounce in favour of the former. We look upon it that they have exceedingly well answered the Duty of their Charge, whilst despising their own private Interest, they have so worthily supported that of the Protestant Religion: Whereas the others, for want of con∣sidering these things as they ought to have done, have given up the interest of their Religion to their own particular advantages.

It is not out of any complement to the Bishops, which less out of any enmity to the Dissenters, that we make such different judgments concerning them. We know well enough how to commend •… blame, what seems to us to deserve our Praise, •… our Censure both in the one and in the other. We do not at all approve the conduct of the Bi∣shops towards the Dissenters under the last Reign. And altho' we do not any more approve that of the Dissenters in separating from their Communion, •… we do confess they had some reason in the bottom for it; and that the Ceremonies which they have refused to submit to, are the Remains of Popery, which we could rather wish might have been entirely abolished. In this unhappy Schism which has so long time rent the Church of England, we look upon it, that both Parties have been equally defective in their Charity. On the one side, the Dissenters ought by no means to have separated themselves for the Form of Ecclesiasti∣cal Government, nor for Ceremonies which do not at all concern the Fundamentals of Religion. On the other side, The Bishops should have had a greater Condescension to the Weakness of their Brethren: And without doubt they would have •… in a manner more agreeable to the Spirit of the Gospel, if instead of treating them with so much rigour as they did, they had left them the Liberty of serving God according to their Con∣science, till it should have pleased him to re-unite All under the same Discipline. However the Con∣formity of Opinion between the Dissenters and Us, ought to have prejudiced Us in their favour, had we been capable of Partiality on this occasion. There is also another thing which might have dis∣posed us to judge less favourably of the Bishops than of them, and that is the Yoke which they have imposed upon the French Ministers by óbli∣ging them to receive a second Ordination before they could be permitted to Exercise their Mini∣stry in the Church of England, as if the Ordina∣tion they had received in France had not been suf∣ficient. But we must do Justice to all the World, and bear Witness to the Truth. We have already said, and we must again repeat it: It seems to us that on this last Occasion the Bishops have dis∣charged their Duty, and are most worthy of Praise, whereas the Dissenters on the contrary are extream∣ly to be blamed. And we will presently offer our Reasons wherefore we judge so of the one, and of the other.

In the mean time, most dear Brethren, give us leave freely to tell you, That if our Brethren the Dissenters of England, who have Addressed to the King, are to be blamed (as we verily be∣lieve they are) you certainly are much more to be condemned. The Hardships under which they had lived for many years without Churches, with∣out Pastors, without Assemblies, made them think the Liberty of Conscience which was offered to them, a great Ease. Their Spirits, soured and prejudiced by the ill Treatments they had received from the Church of England, had not freedom enough to let them see that the Present which was made them was Empoison'd. And therefore up∣on the sudden they received it with joy, and thought themselves obliged to testifie their Ac∣knowledgment of it. But for you who never had any part in the Divisions of the Church of England, and who by consequence were in a state to judge more soundly of things, How is it that you should not have perceived the Poison that was hid under the Liberty of Conscience offered to them? Or if you did not perceive it of your selves, how is it that the Generous Refusal of the Bishops, tho' at the peril of their Liberty and Estates, to publish the Declaration in their Diocesses, should not at least have open'd your eyes?

How have those Venerable Prelates now highly justified themselves from the Reproach that was Page  71 laid upon them of being Popishly affected, and of persecuting the Dissenters only, but of a secret Ha∣tred to the Reformation? How well have they made it appear that these were only Calumnies in∣vented by their Enemies to render them odious to the Protestants, and that their hearts were truly fixed to the Reformed Religion, and animated with a Zeal worthy Primitive Bishops? Could you see those faithful Servants of God disobey the Order of their Soveraign, expose themselves there∣by to his Disgrace, suffer Imprisonment, and pre∣pare themselves to suffer any thing, rather than betray their Consciences and their Religion, with∣out admiring their Constancy, and being touched with their Examples? But above all, could you resolve by your Conduct to condemn that of those generous Confessors? Is this the Acknowledgment which you ought to have made to them for that Charity, with which they had received and com∣forted you in your Exile? Is this to Answer the Glorious Quality of Confessors, of which you so much vaunt your selves? Is this the Act of Faith∣ful Ministers of Christ? Give us leave to tell you, most dear Brethren, your Proceedings in this Af∣fair appear so very strange to us, that we cannot imagine how you were capable of so doing. It seems to us to have even effaced all the Glory you had attained by your Sufferings, to Reproach your Ministry, and to be unworthy of True and Re∣formed Christians.

This is no rash judgment which we pass; and to convince you that it is not, we beseech you only to examine these things with us without Pre∣judice and Interest.

The Declaration of which we speak is designed for two purposes: The one, the re-establishment of Popery. The other, the extinction of the Re∣formed Religion in England. The former of these designs appears openly in it. The second is more concealed; 'tis a Mystery of Iniquity, covered over with a specious appearance; and of which the trace must be concealed till the time of mani∣festation comes. We will say nothing of a third Design, which is, Of the Oppression of the Liber∣ties of England for the Establishment of an abso∣lute Authority, but shall leave it to the Politicians to make their Reflexions upon it. As for us, if we sometimes touch upon it, it shall be only with reference to Religion: We will apply our selves chiefly to the two other Designs which they pro∣posed to themselves who made that Declaration.

It cannot be deny'd but that by this Declara∣tion, there is a Liberty of Conscience granted differently to the Papists and to the Dissenters. •… comprehends both the one and the other under the Name of Nonconformists. And we may with confidence affirm, That they were the Papists espe∣cially whom the King had in his eye when he gave this Declaration. And howsoever he may pretend to have been touched with the Oppressions which the Dissenters had suffered; yet that his principal design was to re-establish Popery.

Behold here already a very great evil, and such as all true Protestants are obliged with their •… most power to oppose. What, shall we see Po∣pery, that abominable Religion, that prodigio•• heap of Filthiness and Impurity, re-establish it∣self, with all it honours, in Kingdoms from which the Reformation had happily banished it? And shall there be found in those Kingdoms Protestant who not only stand still without making any op∣position to it, but e'en favour its re-establishment and openly give it their Approbation? Who could have thought that the Dissenters of England, •… who have always testified so great an aversion to the Roman Religion; and who have no other pre∣tence to separate from the Bishops, than that they have in part retained in their Government and Ceremonies the Exteriors of that Religion, should now themselves joyn to bring it intirely in? But above all, Who could have believed that the French Ministers, who after having experimented all the Fury of Popery in France, were at last ba∣nished, rather than that they would subscribe to its Errors and Abuses: And for this very cause fled into England, that they might there more freely profess the Protestant Religion, should now con∣tribute to re-establish Popery in their new Country where they had been received by their Brethren with so singular a Charity? Would you indeed Gentlemen, see England once more submitted to the Tyranny of the Pope, whose Yoke it so hap∣pily threw off in the last Age? Would you there see all those monstrous Doctrines, all those Super∣stitions, and that horrible Idolatry which reigned there before the Reformation, domineer once more in it? Would you that the People should again hear the Pulpits and the Churches sounding out the Doctrins of Purgatory, of Indulgences, of the Sacrifice of the Mass, &c. and see the Image and Reliques of the Saints carried solemnly in Pro∣cession, with a God formed by the hand of Man. And that in sine, they should again publickly adore those vain Idols? We are confident there is not •… Page  72 good Protestant in the World that would not startle •… at the thought of it.

But this is not yet all. The Declaration of which we speak does not only re-establish Popery with all its abominations, but does moreover tend to the Ruine of the Reformation in England. A Man need not to have any great Sagacity to be convin∣ced of this. And that as much as it seems to establish for ever the Protestant Religion in that Kingdom, it does on the contrary destroy the very Foundations of it.

The ground upon which the Reformation is founded in England, are the Laws which have been made at several times for the settlement of it, and to abolish either the Tyranny of the Pope, or the Popish Religion altogether. And as these Laws have been made by the King and Parliament toge∣ther, so that the King has not the power to Repeal them without a Parliament, they se∣cure the Protestant Religion against the Enter∣prizes of such Kings as should ever think to De∣stroy it.

But now if this Declaration be executed, we are no more to make any account of those Solemn Laws which have been passed in favour of the Re∣formation; they become of no value, and the Protestant Religion is intirely lest to the King's Pleasure. This is what will clearly appear from what we are about to say.

The King not having been able to obtain of the last Parliament to consent to a Repeal of the Laws which had been made against the Noncon∣formists, dissolved the Parliament it self. Not long after, without attending a new one, he did that alone by his Declaration which the Parliament would not do conjunctly with him. He granted a all Liberty of Conscience to the Nonconformists, he freed them from the Penalties which had been appointed against them, and dispensed with the Oaths to which the Laws obliged all those who were admitted to any Charges, whether in the souldiery, or in administration of Justice, or of the Government. In pursuance of these Decla∣rations, he threw the Protestants out of all Places of any great Importance, to clap in Papists in their room, and goes on without ceasing to the intire establishment of Popery. Who does not see, that if the Protestants approve these Declarations, and themselves authorize such Enterprises, the King will not stop here, but that this will be only one step to carry him much further? What can be did when he shall do the same thing with re∣ference to those Laws which exclude the Papists out of the Parliament, that he has done to those which shut them out of all Charges and Imploys, and forbad them the Exercise of their Religion? Does not the approbation of such Declarations, as it overthrows these last, carry with it before-hand the approbation of those which shall one day over∣throw the former? And if the King shall once give himself the Authority to bring Papists into the Parliament, who shall hinder him from using Solicitations, Promises, Threatnings, and a thousand other the like means to make up a Popish Parlia∣ment? And who shall hinder him with the con∣currence of that Parliament to repeal all the an∣cient Laws that had been passed against Popery, and make new ones against the Protestants? These are without doubt the natural Consequences of what the King at this time aims at. These are the fruits which one ought to expect from it, if instead of approving, as some have done, his Enterprises against the Laws, they do not on the contrary with all imaginable Vigor oppose them.

Reflect a little on what we have here said, and you will confess that we have reason to commend the Conduct of the Bishops who refused to publish the Declaration, and to condemn those Dissentèrs who have made their Addresses of Thanks for it.

It is true, that the Dissenters are to be pitied, and that they have been treated hardly enough; and we do not think it at all strange, that they so earnestly sigh after Liberty of Conscience. It is natural for Men under Oppression to seek for Relief; and Liberty of Conscience considered on∣ly in it self, is, it may be, the Thing of all the World the most precious and most desirable. Would to God we were able to procure it for them by any lawful means, and without such ill Conse∣quences, tho' it were at the peril of our Lives! But we conjure them to consider how pernicious that Liberty of Conscience is which is offer'd to them, as we have just now shewn. On the one side, it is inseparably linked with the Establish∣ment of Popery; and on the other, it cannot be accepted without approving a terrible Breach, which his Majesty thereby makes upon the Laws, and which would be the ruine of the Reformation in his Kingdoms, were not some Remedy brought to it. And where is the Protestant who would buy Liberty of Conscience at so dear a rate, and not rather chuse to continue deprived of it all his Life?

Page  73 Should the private Interest of our Brechren the Dissenters blind them in such a manner, that they have no regard to the general Interest of the Church? Should they for enjoying a Liberty of Conscience so ill assured, shut their Eyes to all o∣ther Considerations? How much better would it be for them to re-unite themselves to the Bishops, with whom they differ only in some Points of Discipline; but especially at this time, when their Conduct ought to have entirely defaced those un∣just Suspicions which they had conceived against them? But if they could not so readily dispose themselves to such a Re-union, would it not be better for them to resolve still to continue with∣out Liberty of Conscience, and expect some more favourable time when they may by lawful means attain it, than to open themselves a Gite to Po∣pery, and to concur with it to the Ruine of the Protestant Religion?

You will, it may be, tell us, that it looks ill in us, who so much complain, That we have been de∣prived of Liberty of Concience in France, to sind fault with the King of England for granting it to his Subjects: And that it is the least that can be allowed to a Soveraign, to allow him the Right to permit the exercise of his own Religion in his own Kingdoms, and to make use of the Service of such of his Subjects as himself shall think sit, by putting them into Charges and Employs. You will add, That his Majesty does not go about neither to abrogate the ancient Laws, nor to make new ones. All he does being only to dispence with the Observation of certain Laws in such of his Subjects as he thinks fit, and for as long time as he pleases; and that the right of dispensing with, and suspending of Laws, is a Right insepa∣bly tied to his Person: That for the rest, the Pro∣testant Religion does not run the least Risque. There are Laws to shut the Papists out of Parlia∣ment, and these Laws can neither be dispensed with, nor suspended: So that the Parliament par∣taking with the King in the Legislative Power, and continuing still Protestant, there is no cause to fear, that any thing should be done contrary to the Protestant Religion. Besides, What probabi∣lity is there, that a King who appears so great an Enemy to Oppression in matters of Conscience and Religion, should ever have a thought, tho' he had the Power himself, to oppress in this very matter the greatest part of his Subjects, and take from them that Liberty of Conscience which he now grants to them, and which he promises so •… to observe for the time to come?

These are all the Objections that can with •… appearance of Reason be made against what we have before said. They may all be reduced •… five, which we shall examine in their order. And we doubt not but we shall easily make it appear that they are all but meer Illusions.

1. We do justly complain, That they had taken from us our Liberty of Conscience in France because it was done contrary to the Laws. And one may as justly complain that the K. of England does labour to re-estalish Popery in his Coun∣try, because he cannot do it but contrary to the Laws. Our Liberties in France were founded us on solemn Laws, upon perpetual, irrevocable and sacred Edicts, and which could not be •…, without violating at once the Publick Faith the Royal Word, and the Sacredness of an Oath And Popery has been banished out of England by Laws made by King and Parliament, and which cannot be repealed but by the author of King and Parliament together; so that the there∣fore there is just cause to complain, that the King should go about to overthrow them him∣self alone by his Declaration.

2. It is not true that a Soveraign has always the right to permit the Exercise of his own Religion in his Dominions, and to make use of the •… of such of his Subjects as he himself shall that fit, that is to say, by putting of them into •… and Employs: And in particular, he has this right, when the Laws of his Country contrary thereunto, as they are in the •… before us. Every King is obliged to observe the fundamental Laws of his Kingdom. And the King of England, as well as his Subjects ought to observe the Laws which have been established by King and Parliament together.

3. For the third, the distinction between abrogation of a Law, and the dispensing •… and suspending of it, cannot here be of use; whether the King abrogates the Laws which have been made against Popery, or whether without saying expressly that he does abrogate them, he overthrows them by his Decla∣rations, under pretence of dispensing with suspending of them; it is still in effect same thing. And to what purpose is it the Laws are not abrogated, if in the •… time all sorts of Charges are given to Papists Page  74 and Popery it self be re-established contrary to the tenor of the Laws? The truth is, if the King, has such a power as this, if this be •… Right necessarily tied to his Person, 'tis in vain •… the Parliament does partake with him in the Legislature. This Authority of the Parlia∣ment is but a meer Name, a Shadow, a Phan •…, a Chimera, and no more. . The King is still the absolute Master, because he can alone, and without his Parliament, render useless by his Declarations, the Laws which the Parlia∣ment shall have the most solemnly established together with him. We confess the King has right of dispensing in certain Cases, as, if the concern be what belongs to his private Inte∣rest, he may without doubt whenever he plea∣ses, depart from his own Rights; 'tis a Liberty which no body will pretend to contest with him. But he has not the power to dispense to the Prejudice of the Rights of the people, •… by consequence put the Property, the Li∣berty, and the Lives of his Protestant Subjects into the hands of Papists.

4. What we have now said in Answer to the third Objection, will be more clear from the Answer we are to give to the fourth. They should perswade the Protestants that their Re∣ligion is in safety, because on the one side the King cannot make Laws without the Parliament; and that on the other, there being Laws which exclude Papists out of the two Houses, it must necessarily follow, That the Parliament shall con∣tinue to be Protestant. But if the King has the power to break through the Laws, under the pretence of dispensing with, and suspending of them, what Security shall the Protestants have that he will not dispense with the Pa∣pists, the Observation of those Laws which do exclude them out of the Parliament, as well as •… has dispensed with those that should have kept them out of Charges and Imployments? •… Security shall they have, that he will •… at any time hereafter suspend the Execu∣tion of the former, as he has already suspend∣ed the Execution of the latter? Which being •… what should hinder us from seeing in a little •… a Popish Parliament, who, together with the King, shall pass Laws contrary to the Prote∣stant Religion? What difference can be shewn between the one and the other of these Laws, •… the one should be liable to be dispensed with and suspended, and the other not? Were they not both established by the King and Par∣liament? Were not both the one and the o∣ther made for the Security of the Protestant Religion, and of those who profess it? Are not the Rights of the people concerned in the one as well as in the other? And whosoever suffers and approves the King in the violation of these Rights in some things, does he not thereby authorize him to violate them in all? If the King has power to put the Liberty and property, and Lives of his Protestant Subjects at the mercy of the Papists, by placing them in Charges contrary to the Law, why should he not have the power to raise the same Pa∣pists to the Authority of Legislators, by de∣claring them capable of sitting in Parliament, seeing that is but contrary to Law? Do not deceive your selves, the Laws are the Barrier which bound the Authority of the King, and if this Barrier be once broken, he will extend his Authority as far as he pleases. And it will be impossible for you after that to set any bounds to it.

5. In fine, he must be very little acquainted with the Spirit of Popery, who imagins that it will be content to re-establish it self in Eng∣land, without aiming to destroy the Protestant Religion. Give it but Time and Opportunity to fortifie it self, and you may then expect to see what it is. In all places where it has got the power in its hands, it will not only rule, but rule alone, and not suffer any other Religion besides it self; and imploys the Sword and Fire to extirpate that which it calls Here∣sie. Were not this a Truth confirmed by in∣finite Examples both ancient and modern, which every one knows who has read any thing of History, it would be too much evidenced by the Cruelties which it has so lately exercised against the Churches of Hungary, of France, and of the Vallies of Piemont. And men ought not to be lulled asleep by the pretence of an Incli∣nation which the King of England would be thought to have for Liberty of Conscience, nor by the Promises which he makes to perserve it to all his Subjects without distinction. Every one knows that persidiousness and breach of Faith, are Characters of Popery no less essen∣tial to it than Cruelty. Can you doubt of this, Gentlemen? you who so lately came from making Page  75 a sad Experiment of it? How often did our King promise us to preserve us in our Privi∣ledges? How many Declarations? How many Edicts did he set out to that purpose? How many Oaths were taken to confirm those Edicts? Did not this very King Lewis XIV. himself solemnly promise by several Edicts and Declarations to maintain us in all the Liberties which were granted to us by the Edict of Nantes? And yet after all, what scruple was there made to violate so many Laws, so many Pro∣mises, and so many Oaths? The Protestants of England have themselves also sometimes likewise experimented the same Infidelity: And not to alledge here any other Example, let us de∣sire them to remember only the Reign of Queen Mary, what promises she made at her coming to the Crown, not to make any change of Re∣ligion; and yet what bloody Laws she after∣wards passed to extinguish the Reformation as soon as she saw her self fast in the Throne? And with that inhumanity she spilt the Blood of her most faithful Subjects to accomplish that design. After such an instance as this, a man must be very credulous indeed, and willing to deceive himself, that will put too much con∣fidence in the promises of the King that now reigns. Do we not know, that there are nei∣ther Promises nor Oaths which the Pope does not pretend to have power to dispense with in those whom he employs for the Extirpation of Heresie? And do we not also know, that it is one of the great Maxims of Popery, a Maxim authori∣zed both by the Doctrine and Practice of the Council of Constance, That they are not obliged to keep any Faith with Hereticks. We ought not to believe that King James II. a Prince who has so much Zeal for Popery, should be governed by any other Maxims than those of his Religion. And whosoever will take the pains to examine his Conduct, both before and since his coming to the Crown, will find that he has more than once put 'em in practice:

And this, Gentlemen, we suppose may be sufficient to convince all reasonable persons, that there is nothing more pernicious than that De∣claration which you have approved; whether by publishing it, as some of you have done, or by addressing to the King to thank him for it. When you shall have reflected upon these things you will without doubt your selves confess, that you have suffered your selves to be amused with some imaginary advantages which you hope to make by this Declaration. In the mean time most dear Brethren, you will pardon us, if we have chanced to have let any thing slip that is not agreeable to you. We had no Design to give the least Offence either to you, or to our Brethren the Dissenters of England. If we have spoken our Thoughts freely of your Conduct, and •… theirs, we have at least spoken with no less li∣berty of that of the Bishops. And God is our Witness, that we have said nothing of the one or the other, but in the sincerity of our Heart and out of a desire to contribute somewhat to his Glory, and the good of his Church. We are,