The Jesuite countermin'd. Or, An account of a new plot carrying on by the Jesuites: manifested by their present endeavours (under all shapes) to raise commotions in the land, by aspersing his Sacred Majesties counsels and actions. Also the reasonableness of modesty in subjects in judging the concerns of their prince.

THE JESUITE COƲNTERMIND: OR, An Account of a New PLOT.

THe Romish Polititians, in all the Efforts of that Zeal they dis∣cover in their Endeavours to Introduce the Catholick Reli∣gion into Protestant Nations, never so wholly lean on any particular means they use, as thereby to be either disabled, or discouraged from betaking themselves [upon a Defeat of the first Stratagem] to another that promises equal likelihood of Success, but are ever active in secret Ambuscade, absconding themselves in the Dark Ʋmbrages of Cruel Subtilty: And though their Conspiracies may seem to the Eyes of some, to be Extinct, or at least Dormient, through a Languid Faintness, and Supine Lassitude resulting from the Frustra∣tion of their Industrious Vigilancy; Yet those that have made a more narrow Inspection into their Deportment and Designs, do Inform us, that no sooner is even one of their Capital and prime Plots unravell'd to the bottom, and devested of its Closure with the event, but (Hydra like) up springs another in the room: A pretty Infant Contrivance, which if carefully Fomented by the tender Fathers, the good honest Je∣suites,

is like to prove a hopeful and useful Instrument in time to pro∣mote the Interest of the Mother of Witchcrafts. Nor is that Objection of any Validity which may be taken from the Disparity between the Circumstances of ours and other Nations Laws. For, say they, Indeed they may never be weary of carrying on Designs in other Nations, where there is no such care taken to root out the whole Race of Ignatius's Fol∣lowers, though they find some of them tardy. But in ours, say they, It is impossible for them to succeed any more, since His Majesty has so prosecu∣ted the Business home, that no Papist can live in London, unless he take the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy: And all those that dwell in the Country are confined to an impossibility of meeting in Consultation about any such thing: Whereas the late Plot was pursued with all Industry, Policy, and Secrecy by Potent Confederates, for London abounded with Papists Incorporating almost whole Streets into Romish Societies: And not only that City, but all England swarmed with Jesuites and other Ecclesiastical and Secular Orders. So that indeed they might have some probabilities of accomplishing their Aims; But now, the fore-mentioned Alterations of these things, deprives them of any Means of bringing in their Religion here again. This may seem at first sight to have some shew of Truth, But if searched into, is but a meer plausible Flourish: For their San∣ctuaries at Doway and S. Omers, supersede all the Crosses and Obstru∣ctions they have met with hitherto; especially if we consider what vast Contributions have been made both by Foreigners and Natives toward the carrying on the Plot: and they have had no Occasion as yet, we may presume, to expend so great a Summe of Money; and whether they be not yet aided in the same manner, and their Treasury encreased, we have no assurance. This then, according to the account given by Doctor Oates, in several Passages of his Narrative, and the Appendix thereto; and as the Event in some measure evinces, seems to be their Second Plot, to raise Commotions and Rebellions in the Kingdom: By tra∣ducing His Sacred Majesty's Counsels and Actions, casting Aspersions and Calumnies on whatsoever he does or intends; and so by Conse∣quence they would disaffect the Kings Subjects against his Government, suggesting to them, that he is Tyrannically dispos'd, purposing a Mo∣nopoly of Arbitrary Rule: Notwithstanding His Majesty has in all His Speeches, Publick Deportments and Transactions, discover'd Intenti∣ons Diametrically opposite to such Treacherous and Uncharitable Sur∣mises. But here lies the Ground of the Jesuites Hopes.

They observe, that as in all Alterations of State, in Wars, Sieges, Rebellions, or any other Signal Popular Calamities, the Vulgar People are Impregnate with a strange Turbulency and heat in their Spirits, which is apt to exert its self in Various Pranks, and sometimes in Enormous prevarications. So it is now in this Land: For being as it were nettled with the late Horrid Attempts of the Papists, they cannot be quiet, but are harassed in their Spirits by an unusual Fervour, and this differs proportion∣ately to their various Tempers, Educations, Converse and Inte∣rests: Some swell'd by Hypocondriack Flatulencies, presume to foretel that these Convulsions in our Land are certain Prodromes of the last period and dismal Catastrophe of this Lower World; o∣thers provoked by peccant choler, and habitual Self-conceit, are an∣gry with every thing almost that occurs, if it have any Reference to the Publick: Others act and speak after another manner, all as their Fancy guides them: that Faculty (however Tinctured with peculiar Idea's, accommodate to the Genius of each Indivi∣dual) being generally Regnant among the inferiour Orders and Ranks of Men.

But that which is of greatest Subserviency to the Jesuites ends, amongst the several Humours of Plebeians, is the common pro∣pension of their over-heated Heads to be tampering too busily with the Abstruse Mysteries of Religion, and the Great Affairs of State.

But I had almost forgot that against this may the former Ob∣jection be urged, and that the Jesuites can make no use of these Extravagancies in the English People, since, as hath been said, without taking the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy, none can stay in London of their Profession, nor can with any great pro∣bability be capacitated to make any Disturbance in the Country. I answer, That if some Officers in Ireland were dispensed with for taking those Oaths, upon promise of delivering up their trusts upon demand from their Contractors or their Substitutes: It is as rational to con∣ceive, that the Jesuites may dispence with themselves, or their Missi∣oners now upon a parallel account, this being as well as that, subordi∣nate to the Grand Design of Introducing the Romish Religion.

Let it be granted then, that if they please they can allow (ac∣cording to their Infallible way of reconciling Contradictions)

Perjury in this case to be no Perjury, but Sacramental Perfidiousness to be Holy Faithfulness. And can we suppose they will be back∣ward in sending their Missioners, or coming themselves, and (un∣der a new disguise of Sanctity and Loyal Obedience) dwelling and passing for well-meaning persons in the Nation. Now this being granted, what hinders but that they make use of the two fore-mentioned Propensions in the Vulgar to Religious and Poli∣tical Enthusiasm, make use of them, I say, in order to the accom∣plishing their Designs. For as to the first, the Irregularity and Fanatick Fervour in matters of Religion, it is sufficiently Noto∣rious, how easily the Vulgar are elated into Admiration of those of their Sect and Faction, who seem Zealous in some trivial Mat∣ters, as it were excited by a Supernatural Impulse, perhaps only the Effervescency of predominant Choler: I say, how natural it is for the lighter sort of the People, those 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, to be moved into a Venerable Esteem of these Blazing, and (as likely) S. Judes wandering Stars, so that whatsoever they dictate to them is embraced as an Oracle, and being naturally desirous of, and propense to the Advancement of that which they esteem Re∣ligion, they may with great facility be wrought into a detesta∣tion of whatsoever may be presumed to be an Obstacle in the way of its promotion. Therefore here wants only a sly Jesuite to step in, and putting on the Vizard of Holiness and Zeal for the Chri∣stian Cause, to preach to them such Doctrines as may tend to the removing all Blocks and Impediments, telling them, that it is law∣ful to kill Kings that deprive them of their Liberty of Conscience: However if they proceed not to so high a pitch of Audacious Vil∣lany, yet to be sure these professed Regicides will not stick to wound his Reputation, insinuating strange Jealousies into the Minds of the People: And, that this has been the practice of the Jesuits in Scotland, and elsewhere; I think there wants but op∣portunity of reading the Narrative of the late Plot Published by Doctor Oates, to prove it. And why may we not suppose the same Instruments to be stirring now, since we find such correspon∣dency in the Event; every pedling Mechanick, or ill-bred Rustick presuming to descant on the Actions and Counsels of their Prince,: censuring every thing either as ill intended, or weakly prosecuted, Thus by an unavoidable Dilemma reducing whatever he says or

does, under the Classis of Tyranny or Folly. This is the first sort of Men whom the Jesuites seduce: There are another kind of State Fanaticks also whom they Inveagle, and by puffing them up into Self-conceit, cause them to speak great swelling Words of Vani∣ty, doting on their own Imposturous Suggestions as the Original Patterns of Policy; whereas in truth they are but the delirious Hallucinations of their own corrupted Fancies.

And here though I have seemed to be general in my Accusa∣tion▪ I would not be understood without due Restrickions, neither do I think this malignant censoriousness is altogether so predomi∣nant at present as it hath been of late; mistake not my design which is not to build a Rant against Men out of a moer angry, quarrelsome humour, but rather to prevent the danger which may be feared to result from the Continuance of so horrible a Vice as this Civil Blasphemy is, in the eyes of all Sober men. So that I desire pardon if I have already, or may hereafter in the follow∣ing Pages of this Treatise, let fall any Passage tinctured with too much Disdain and Indignation: for I assure you, such Reproach∣ful Terms proceed from my being so Immerse in a Vivid Resent∣ment of the odiousness of this Crime, which also is exploded in the Sacred Lines with Expressions of great Detestation.

To Resume therefore the Line of my Discourse, it being Con∣ceded that it is no Groundless Panick fear, that the Jesuites are the Cherishers of these Censures and Calumnies which have been, and no doubt still are Vomited forth, by the rash and heedless Vulgar. The next thing I have to do is to shew the unreasonableness of this Immodesty in Subjects: And after that the danger of it to them∣selves and the whole Nation, if not speedily amended.

First therefore, as to the unreasonableness of Immodest Hasti∣ness, and peremptory Dogmatizing concerning Princes Actions: It may well be presumed, That the Mysteries of Government are far above the Capacities of Plebeians, who confining their Disguisitions to the more sensible Phoenomena in the State, their Conceptions of the subtle Cabbala's thereof, are like the Rustick Apprehensions of Astronomy, rude and incongruous. Indeed the Necessities and Con∣tingencies appendant to their several respective Callings and Con∣ditions in the World by Ingulphing all their Thoughts and Pro∣jects reject them into a fatal Inability to take notice of the Colla∣teral

and private Figurations, which Providence in her constant Inrotation makes on the Stream of Political Affairs. 'Tis true, there are some ordinary and vulgar Marks, by which mean Un∣derstandings (though they be already as it were absorpt by the inferiour Objects of Sense and Domestick Contrivance) may yet trace the Motions of that great Master-wheel, that Matchless Engine of Divine Wisdom, so as not only to be able to govern their own Affairs with Discretion, but also to make some suitable Conjectures of the Publick Interest: but when they once go be∣yond these, they have ventured out of their Sphere, and are most commonly bewildered, and like Children apt to be frighted with their own Shadows, those dark stalking Images in the Phantasie; for being not used to see the various Springs which set a going the Admirable Harmony in Humane Affairs, they take every thing for a Bugbear that makes a great Noise in the World, and either Heaven or Hell they think must have an immediate hand in such Exotick Digressions; whereas these Discords do more en∣hance the Melody to a Judicious and Contemplative Mind, who knows that the greatest and loudest Exorbitancies in State Affairs are onely the Periodical Invariations of that Nemesis that is by God interwoven in the very Texture of the Ʋniverse. Such an One trusting only to the Calmness and Serenity of Reason, not to the garish Impostures of Fancy; is (as a consequence of exquisite and curious Observation) very diffident in these Matters, and indeed in most things else that are Invested with such mutable Circum∣stances and Accidents: So that he does not so often expose him∣self to such gross mistakes as naturally result from the hasty and perfunctory glances of the vulgar shallow Rhodomonts, but with wary yet as zealous Industry, as those that keep a greater clatter, he traces the various Minute Rivulets that silently insinuate into the grand Current of Affairs: he traces them I say, as neer as he can to their Spring-heads, and then returning again, narrowly observes their several Intercourses, Conjunctions, and progres∣sive Advancements; and this nice Scrutiny causes humility and meekness of Conversation, so that he does not pass rash and im∣mature Censures on any thing, but mildly and rationally con∣cludes that it is prudence to suspend his Judgment, in Cases not throughly condescending to his Understanding, and such certainly

are the abstruse Mysteries of State, as his Experience can witness: And not onely his, but others also who have been better Capaci∣tated, as one would think, to know the Mysteries at Court: and yet even these had not interest enough to discern the true Secret of Counsels, as appears from the frequent disparity and not un∣usual contrariety that is discovered in several Narratives of the same State Transaction made by Persons highly, yet not equal∣ly, qualified for a Commodious Information in those Matters: nay sometimes so well qualified, as even to have a Concern in the Business they profess to give an account of, and yet it seems one of them must be mistaken. And can we think that if the Jesuites were glad to allow Fifty pounds a year to a subtle Critick, that so by his watchfulness and inquisitive Diligence, they might have a true account but of some of the Kings Words and outward Be∣haviour: Can we think, I say, that the inferiour sort of the Peo∣ple can attain to any probable certainty of having a true account of such of His Majesties Concerns as neither are Committed to the Press, nor delivered in any Authentick Manuscript? And if they can have a true Account of them, yet how can they judge of them, since they so far transcend their Capacities, by reason of the vast distance (in Situation and Magnitude) of their se∣veral respective Spheres; so Great, that if they were supposed to be searched into with the greatest Advantage the Plebeians are capable of; such as are Acuteness of Parts, the perusal of Histo∣ries, good Intelligence, and the like: I say, suppose the Vulgar to be Priviledged with all these Helps, yet some have concluded they will be able to discover no more of the true Byass, and se∣cret Tendency of these Profound and Recondite Counsels, than a skilful Astronomer assisted by all the Writings of Men Fa∣mous in that Science, by his own dexterous Sagacity, and the most exquisite Opticks, can discover the dark Intrigues in the Moon: though by the fore-mentioned helps he can sufficiently inform himself of the Habitableness of that Adjacent Planet, and can dis∣cern the difference of Land and Water, nay and will perhaps ven∣ture at the proportion of her Hills by their Shadows: Yet, I say, for all this he is not able to give any Rational Account of what is done by the Inhabitants there; but must needs by pretending to such Knowledge, incur the just Imputation of Indiscreet Folly,

and come off as ridiculously as the Virtuoso, that would delight himself with fine long Harangues concerning the Interest and A∣ctions of a certain Monarch there, who by him was affirmed to be Marching at the Head of a Great Army. Thus deluding him∣self with Phantastick and imaginary Scenes of War, pourtray'd ('tis like) on his flexile Mind by a Pencil dipt in the Moist and Lunatick Illapses from that adjacent Planet. And this is the case of the un∣stable and empty Vulgar, who gaping after News, do commonly Imbibe the Droppings of the Court, though very much sophisti∣cated and imbitter'd with the Cholerick Exsudations of inter∣mediate persons. Thus puffing up his frantick Mind with strange uneasie Forms, cheating himfelf with a Belief, that his Anxious Soul with Labouring Steps has gone through all the Labyrinth of the State-Councels, unravell'd the whole System of true Policy; whereas, poor man! he has only been dragg'd through the Phan∣tasms of his heated Brain. In a word, it was a waking Dream which presented to his busie Thoughts, the KING and COƲN∣CIL Acting thus and thus, Involved in Dark and Tyrannous In∣trigues: When, alas! were the man well awaked into a due pitch of Sobriety, he would easily discern that his Vast Distance from the ROYAL SPHERE, must needs engage him in as Idiotick Conceits of what's done there, as the Vulgar have of the Moon, which they are apt to fancy to be a fine Bright Frame with the Pi∣cture of a Man in it, having a Bundle of Sticks on his Shoulders. I say, as gross would be the Fancy of Plebeians, of what's Trans∣acted at the Council-Boord, were they not priviledged with some broken Adulterate Narratives of those things; which yet may in a Parallel Degree delude them, to what the above-nam'd Virtuoso's Opticks do him in gazing on the Moon, insinuating false Hypotheses into his Frothy Credulous Soul.

I would not by this seem to put a Curb on Mens Understandings, and lead them by the Nose into a Supine Acknowledgment, That whatever Kings do is Infallibly Just and Prudent; this were to make Civil Popes of them: And yet here I must needs confess, that I think as their being Men has subjected them to those Frailties of Lapsed Humane Nature, which by a Divine Nemesis are in dif∣ferent Measures and Degrees the Lot of all Men, according to the Various Obliquity of their Fall: So also that High Place they

possess amongst Men, and their great subserviency to the myste∣rious Designs of Providence, Entitles them to more frequent and plentiful Assistance from Heaven: And the Superiour Orders in the Universe, if not a special Energy from the Deity, makes good their claim by Ennobling them with Vast and Comprehensive In∣tellects, suitable to their Noble Emploiment, and the otherwise inextricable Difficulties which attend on it, and these sublime Ac∣quisitions, may be discovered by a cautious Observer in the great∣est part of Princes and other high Ministers of State, if there be not some Impediment in Nature, or gross flaw in their practise, which last made the Royal Psalmist, after the Retirement of the Divine Influence upon the Commission of Murder, implore the Restaura∣tion of that Celestial Favour, that so his enervated understanding might recover strength, and (to express it in the common transla∣tion of his own words) That he might be established with a free and (as One adds) a Princely Spirit, a Mind Impregnate with Illap∣ses of Eternal Wisdom, and so capacitated to produce deep Coun∣sels and Heroick Actions befitting his Royal Dignity, and suitable to the vast and otherwise unalleviated pressures of the State. So that this great and pious King prayed but for what he had depri∣ved himself of, his former illuminations from Heaven. And truly it seems very Congruous, that the Mysterious Whispers of the Invisible World, are in a more intimate manner communicated to Pious Princes, whose Immense Minds cannot but by their ever active and strong Vibrations (like Unisons in Musick) snatch in∣to Sympathy some Courteous Angel, who (Deo favente) holding back the Veil, must needs degurgitate upon them full and penetrant Coruscations from the Abyss of that otherwise Inaccessible Light: Thus tincturing their Counsels and Actions with that Wisdom that may render them weighty and unsophisticate. But lest I should incur the Imputation of Rosicrucian vanity, in thus pompously as∣cribing Divine Illumination to the Ministery of Angels; I will crave leave to digress a word or two to prove my Assertion: It will be easily granted I hope, that if many of the Prophets were Illuminated in this manner in the Old Testament, God has not In∣novated the Circumstances of this Favour in the New: But that in many cases, I do not say in all, Divine Light may be communi∣cated to men by the hands of Angels. That it was thus under the

Law, many of the Hebrew Masters do attest, Maimonides is full to this purpose, both in his De Fundamentis Legis, and More Ne∣vochim: I will instance one place for all. But * 1.1this is a Digression, yet such an one as may well enough square with my intent in the fore∣going Considerations; for in thus proving in what an Illustrious manner the Prophets were of old Inspired, I do more then tacitely sub∣indicate the Excellent Prerogative of Princes also, the latter being called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, as well as the former, and that Title onely belonged to those Favourites of Heaven, whose Souls (if not obnubilated with Vice) were permitted to bask under the more Glorious Irradiations of Divine Light: And this, I say, was, and upon the same tearms is still, the Priviledge of Kings as well as of Priests and Prophets. And consequently it is very Irrational for ordinary ignorant Plebeians, whose Domestick mean Imployments could never permit them to cultivate their Understandings with any other knowledge, save what they have gained by Experience, in their trivial Converse with men of the same Rank with them∣selves, and some few Superficial Observations concerning the Pub∣lick: It is irrational, I say, and argues much self-conceit in them, when they take upon them so boldly and rashly to censure and condemn the Actions of their Prince, as 'tis too common for them to do, when to better weighed men those very Actions carried the appearance of sound Policy and sedulous care for the Publick: and if they did not seem so pleasing to them in that particular po∣sture they behold them in, yet even an Implicite Recumbency in such cases were very commendable in the Vulgar; who, were it not for some few innate Ideas and common Notions floating up and down in their Minds, surviving the shipwrack that was made of the rest of those precious Jewels in their Apostacy and fall, I say, were it not for a few Sparks of Reason left, they seem to verge exceeding near to the Brutes in their Sentiments of things, and therefore certainly it is very decorous, that in Political Mat∣ters whose Scheme is very abstruse and curious, they should rely on the judgment of their Supreme Governours, whom for the most

part, Heaven, Nature, Education, and Experience have bless'd with comprehensive, quick, and profound Understandings. We may also take notice, that they are frequently endued with many other Gifts and Accomplishments, such as that which Illu∣strates the Majesty of our Gracious Sovereign; viz. His power of Curing by a Touch that malignant and inveterate Disease called The Kings Evil. All that I would intimate by what is said, is this, That by the Laws and Polity of the Superiour Invisible Or∣ders, or by what other indispensible Conditions of the Creation, we know not: there is a peculiar Mark set on Princes, they are Signaliz'd with Extraordinary Advantages of Mind, and by a more Conspicuous Residence of Divinity in them, their persons are made Sacred; so that by arrogant or irreverent detra∣ctions to depretiate Royalty, is but a lesser kind of Profaneness, and a very suspicious Prodrome of flat Blasphemy and Atheism.

But I will not anticipate what is hereafter to be spoken concern∣ing the Religious Obligation that lies on all Subjects to be modest in this case; to proceed therefore in the discovering the Ineptitude of Censoriousness.

Many and various Topicks I might make use of, to Illustrate and Fortifie my Assertions, and to prove that want of Resigned Understandings in the inferiour Plebeians, when the Object is any ways appertaining to Policy; as a Princes management of Affairs, is the most absurd, incongruous thing in the World: the ultimate Vote in such matters, being not only by right the peculiar Pre∣rogative of the Supreme Powers, but also must at last of necessity be cast upon them, else the Order of Nature must needs be inverted, the Oeconomy, happiness and safety of the Civil World distorted and dwindled into Confusion, irreconcileable Enmity and endless Conten∣tion: As to the Confusion that will result from this Epidemical Censoriousness.

It must be considered, that unless the King make himself a very Proteus in his Counsels, moulding them into as many Shapes as there be several Opinionists in his Realms: he had as good do no∣thing, for every one will still be so conceited of those Models of Policy, that float up and down in his shallow Brains, that he will very hardly be brought to yield an Inch to any that shall contra∣dict him: and 'tis a thousand to one if there be a thousand in the

whole Kingdom, that agree in the same Opinion exactly; where then shall the business be decided? I mean, who shall determine what form of Policy is best, this mans, or that mans? Or whe∣ther the Kings is not to be preferr'd before them all? Here is no Tribunal, or Infallible Chair to resort to for Satisfaction, for each person is so Incrustate in his own Conceit, that you had as good endeavour to break the Adamant, as to expect any impar∣tial condescention from his hardned Soul: No! he scorns to be guilty of such base Incurvation of his erect and sublime Intellect, so as to cringe to anothers obtruded Notions: The King himself shall not curb his free-born Mind. This or something Analogous to it would be the humour of all those, who are thus settled upon the Lees and gross dregs of turbulent Pride and darkness, whenso∣ever they are a little stirr'd and troubled; nothing can be drawn from them, but muddy, partial, and tenacious Obstinacy, and contradictory Inconsistences. What is to be done in this un∣happy Juncture? Where is the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 of true Policy to be found? Why in this Aenigmatical Repository; every where, and yet no where: Every man would be Judge, but no mans Sentence shall be Authentick with other men: Here is a verbal Anarchy, and ten to one but the next Morning brings forth a real one.

The most natural Method therefore of reducing things to their proper Order again in such cases, is to place the King in the Seat of Judgment, resolving all to stand to his Verdict in Political Mat∣ters; and though he should seem to them to deviate from Wisdom and Fidelity, yet modesty should take away their prosumption of the former, and Charity should null their suspicion of the latter.

And now I am fallen upon the mention of Charity, methinks it is very congruous, that that Sweet Ingenuity, that Benign Candor in Christians, which should put a Check on their over-hasty judg∣ing their Brother, should much more exert it self in this case; where besides the Obligation of Natural Affinity between all men, there is a supervening and more intimate tye of Gratitude from Subjects to their Prince, to whose Vigilancy they owe the Secu∣rity of their Quiet and Ease: and upon that account, should be very tender of His Honour, by never daring to broach or counte∣nance in others any Aspersions, or contemptuous harsh Reflections

which may seem to touch his Sacred Person, and his Management of Affairs. And it is as much the Duty of Subjects, as it is an Argument of Generosity, thus to deport themselves in reference to their Soveraign, for the Supreme Monarch of the World has joyned in one Command, the due payment of his own and Caesars Tribute; but certainly his own would not in his esteem be dischar∣ged, especially that part of it which consists in a reverent Behaviour and Usage of all things belonging to him, should men be conti∣nually grumbling and quarrelling at the Inscrutable Methods of his Providence in Governing the World; and because they could not comprehend throughly its profound Intrigues: therefore they should upon some seeming Exotick Digressions and uncouth Me∣anders of Divine Wisdom, presently suspect and presumptuously divulge their Jealousie that God was carrying on a Design to gull all Mankind into horrible Servitude and Misery: Whereas these mistaken Symptoms of such a Plot, were only the reserved Traces of the Great Council of Heaven, in order to the Good of the World; only not condescending to the narrow researches of Humane Un∣derstandings: and sure it is but a lesser degree of that cloudy ma∣licious Surmise, when Subjects so impudently presume to Snort at the Actions of their King, especially in a time of peril to the Church and State, if he do not keep on the broad High-way, as these silly conceited Plebeians are prone to esteem those Models of Policy they have familiariz'd: I say, if a Prince does not obviate the imminent danger just in the same manner as those Mighty Poli∣titians would have him, is it not notorious Insolence in them to defame him, and so contemptuously to traverse his Deep Counsels? though the supposed Irregularities and extravagant deflections from the vulgar beaten-path, proceed but from a certain know∣ledge and fore-sight, that in such cases the Proverb is true, which informs us, That sometimes the longest way about is the nighest way home: For in thus seeming to abandon, or negligently to manage the Publick Welfare, he indeed more closely, but more warily withal, prosecutes it: perhaps he may fetch a larger compass then these slow-pated Gentlemen can tell how to trace him in; But it is only to remove some foreseen Obstacles, or anticipate a fly Machination, perhaps he may a while stand still, when a more steddy and full prospect of his Business may expedite the Accom∣plishment

of his well-intended Aims: And yet these seeming Sta∣tick and retrograde Postures of Princes may sometimes arise from a mistake somewhat Analogous to theirs, who think the Planets really go back and stand still, when that delusive Phaenomenon ari∣ses only from the several Stations of the Earth * 1.2in its Annual motion. He that understands Co∣pernicus his Scheme of the World, will best re∣lish the Comparison: For so these Plebeians moving in a narrower Sphere, cannot keep pace with the vast Orb of Polititians, and yet measuring their Stately Motions by the Su∣perficial Ideas in their delirious Fancies, will be apt to think the others stand still and go back, when the fault lies only in their In∣constant Skulls, and over-hasty propension to censoriousness. But however suppose these disparate Motions of Princes to be real, yet 'tis Idiotick to murmure all this while, as if the Matter was in the Suds, as they say: for these Oblique Transcursions and Statick postures, do but help to resume his way more prosperously, now encouraged by the defeat of the prevised Obstructions: In this not much unlike that Glorious Monarch of the Day, the Sun, who for all that Heavenly Labyrinth and Learned Perplexity he seems to be intangled in, when beheld in an Astronomical Scheme, yet nevertheless rejoyces as a Giant to run his course, breaking through all those seeming Difficulties, which are only the Product of busie Minds. Such is the Zodiack of Policy wherein Princes move, and their Postures and Motions, seem they never so ob∣lique or obscure; nay though they should (like that Great Light) seem to the Vulgar to stand still, yet their Course is stea∣dy and regular, ever tending toward the accomplishment of their Scope, and he that should deny this, because by reason of several interposing hindrances, he could not precisely trace their Foot∣steps, deserves to be counted as much a Fool or Mad-man, as he that should think the Sun went not forward, because he could not at that time discern his progress when some Clouds intercepted his sight, or suppose the Air serene and clear, yet the vast di∣stance of the Solar Sphere rejected all Terrestrial Gazers into an unavoidable inability to descry his seeming minute, though really prodigious, steps in the Ecliptick, according to the Ptolomaick Hypothesis, which I may make use of here for the Comparisons

sake, though I discard that almost obsolete Opinion, when I hearken to the Dictates of severer Reason.

I would not by these more Lax Considerations of the vast di∣stance between a Prince and his Subjects, seem to set up, as I said, a kind of State-Pope, whose Actions must not be questioned or scann'd as being Infallibly Excellent and without Fault. All that I mean is this,

1. That all Political Transactions are in their own nature In∣tricate, as it were Essentially involving Labyrinths and Mean∣ders in their very Constitution, but acquire a greater inex∣tricableness, by the numerous and assiduate Contingencies that e∣merge from the various events of Peace and War, &c.

2. That upon the account of these inseparable Difficulties that attend the Management of State Affairs, none can be presumed fitter to conquer them, and dispatch the Concernsof a Nation with Safety, Honour, and Immunity from subsequent Disasters that may result from perfunctory Attempts to cure present Diseases: I say none can be supposed to be in a better capacity to do this, than he whose very Birth entituled him to the Priviledge of being initiated (when adult) into the Rudiments of true Policy, whose Education made good his Native-claim, and both were seconded with adventitious Light and Conduct from the Celestial Ministers of State; And such an one is every pious Prince.

3. That therefore the Prince with his Council ought to be e∣steemed the ORACLE of the STATE; and he who over boldly pries into their Consultations, or rashly censures their Actions, forseits his Modesty, Gratitude, Duty and Reason, and discovers a Mind intoxicated with self conceit, hardened with base Unthankfulness, and sunk into gross Folly, and Irreligion: So that I might very well pass on to another part of this Discourse, were I not invited to pursue my present Theme more closely, and to reduce Matters to particulars, for fear of the spreading conta∣giousness and regency of this Disease. Not to mention how cun∣ningly the poyson is imbib'd when taken by men who in plain words own the Preheminence of Royalty, yet by their Jesuitically Ob∣lique Reflections on its Proceedings, are taught to embrace and easily learn to give to others injurious and irreverent thoughts of it, and deprive it of the most suitable means to justifie it self, and

disabuse them; which means consists in its being handled with that due modesty and ingenuous Reservedness, that its fore▪named ap∣p ndant Circumstances require: And not only those, but others also, which I will enumerate immethodically, as they occur.

It may be considered therefore, that one vast disadvantage ac∣crues to the Vulgar in judging of State. Affairs from their unac∣quaintedness in a multitude of particulars relating to the Alliances, Leagues, Correspondencies, and several other Transactions be∣tween a King and the Princes of Foreign Nations: not to men∣tion his private Concerns at home, whether at the Court, or any other parts of his Realms, between him and his Nobles: All which perhaps may be extraneous to the main engrossing present Affair of the Publick, and yet he must be allowed to prosecute them with as much perhaps more vigour and alacrity, then at that time is requisite to the management of that other great Affair: Whence it will fall out, that now and then they will force him to make an Eruption into some Publick Actions, whose coherence with, and de∣pendance on those fore-mentioned private Concerns not being un∣derstood, or so much as dream'd of among the Vulgar; it must needs follow, that if they take upon them to judge of those Acti∣ons, they will still imagine they bear a respect to that part of the Publick Affairs which fall under their Cognizance, and so will make a false Construction of the Scope and Tendency of such A∣ctions, which probably may not have any Affinity with the Pub∣lick Affair, but only are performed in order to the accomplish∣ment of his own private. But here when I make a difference be∣tween a Prince's publick Actions and his private; I mean only this, that the management of some of their Concerns does not im∣ply so immediate and direct a relation to the present great engros∣sing Affair of the Publick, though they may have a real Aspect on it, as to their Remote tendency, by an exquisite Cadency of Events falling in with the Stream. Sometimes also they act with a direct Aspect on the Publick, but yet their Design is hid from the Vulgar. As sometimes a Prince may be Negotiating with an Ambassadour concerning the present Great Matter in Publick Quest, and yet his Subjects may not dream of any such thing▪ this private Negotiation may cause the Prince to run out into ex∣traordinary Actions, and such as to the Vulgar who were ignorant

of what pass'd between him and the Ambassadour, may seem exo∣tick, if not worse: so easie is it for the Vulgar to commit gross Errours, if they presume to descant on every unusual Phaenome∣non in the management of State Affairs, when oftentimes they are raised from Causes so remote from the knowledge of the Vulgar, that unless we suppose them not only to be well skill'd in the Hi∣stories of Neighbour Nations, and of their Court Proceedings, and in the Histories of our own Land; but also versed in many unpublished Narratives, or at least all those Passages in them which relate the several Alliances, Leagues, Titles, and other Circumstances wherein our Soveraign either upon his own or his Ancestors account may be engaged: To some of which these un∣usual Publick Carriages of a Prince may have reference; I say, unless we will suppose the Vulgar to know all this, which is all one as to suppose them of the Kings Cabinet-Council; it must needs follow, that they will be guilty of gross Hallucinations, when ever they take upon them to censure such Actions and Pub∣lick Deportments of a Prince: their narrow thoughts not being able without those fore-mentioned helps, perhaps scarce with them, to pursue the vast and intricate Designs of Princes through all the Elaborate Tracts of Policy.

And this Consideration will I presume carry greater force with it, if it be but considered how many of the Ordinary Passages and Transactions between Neighbours in the same Town are not fully understood by others in the same Corporation (and perhaps men of competent judgment in such Affairs) onely by reason of their not being acquainted with the grounds of such Transactions which cannot be known without a satisfactory Information in several par∣ticular Circumstances relating to the Condition of the persons con∣cerned and their Kindred; Many of which Circumstances, or all of them may be pointed at in such Transactions: and if such Dilu∣cidations be necessary to make Neighbours understand one ano∣thers business, though its utmost Aspect may perhaps be confined to persons dwelling in the same Town, we must needs think that the greatest part of a Princes Affairs as to their scope and tenden∣cy, is lost to the Vulgar, since they have oftentimes an intimate connexion with things done in very remote Regions, some hundreds of years ago, amidst Circumstances to many of which we are

wholly strangers. 'Tis no wonder therefore that many Actions of Princes seem uncouth to the Vulgar, and their abrupt Transi∣tions from the ordinary course of common Policy, make the silly people start, their crazy understandings not being able to bear the sudden motion. Indeed to make a man a competent Judge in those Phanomena, it were requisite that he be well versed in the whole System of the Political Affairs of such a Realm, and that he be able with one compendious glance, to look on these extraor∣dinary Actions of Princes, and the whole body of Political Con∣cerns together, for they will never appear to their true advan∣tage, but when they are looked on in their proportional condu∣civeness to advance the due Symmetry of the whole; and this cannot be done but by a full display of them altogether. He that shall then attentively survey the Great Current of State Affairs, and the apt Insinuations of these Novel Rivulets, and though they seem to proceed from By-corners, yet how naturally they glide along with the Stream▪ He that shall observe how the knowledge of somewhat done a hundred years ago, and a thousand miles off, does yet illustrate a present Eruption of a Prince into some seem∣ing Exotick Discoveries of Concernment and care; such an one will discern the Folly of being over hasty in censuring Occurrencies so disadvantageously looked on, when irrelatively and sever'd from the Coincidence they had with Matters to them utterly un∣known; or with the whole stream of State Affairs.

Hitherto the Tenour of my Arguments against Censoriousness in Subjects, and their immodest Determinations concerning those Methods of Policy that are used by their Prince, has not alto∣gether excluded them from a possibility of having true Narratives of their Proceedings, but only upon a tacite Concession of that Priviledge to some of them does yet deny them any Capacity of making a suitable Conjecture concerning the re-cluse tendency of all their known Transactions, or of defining whether such a sup∣posed Tendency of them be Commensurate to the Rules of true Policy. But there are not wanting Arguments to prove that it is very improbable at least, if not impossible for the Vulgar to have so much as a true genuine account of their ordinary Deport∣ment and Counsels in reference to the Publick: And then these Criticks will be inexcusable in their peremptory descants on Trans∣actions,

which perhaps owe their Birth to Vulgar Report: how∣ever they can have no ordinary assurance to the contrary, and therefore cannot escape S. Judes Censures, who calls those Gno∣sticks in his time, Filthy Dreamers, and gives this Character of them, That they despise Government, speak evil of Dignities, and of things they know not. And just so do our State-Criticks, speak evil of things they know not, which I will endeavour to prove.

It may be considered therefore, That a great Disadvantage ac∣crues to these mens knowledge of the profound Mysteries of State, by reason of the many hands through which all Narratives of Prin∣ces Councels and Actions must necessarily pass (supposing they be true at first) before they can come under their Cognizance; and certainly they must lose much of those Appendages which are requisite to dilucidate an entire true Account, by being obnoxi∣ous to the Additions, Substractions, Tinctures, Glosses, and Manglings of all those Intermediate persons, whose various and severally peculiar Interests, Dispositions, Affections, Humours, and Mistakes may conduce to the depriving a Narrative of its Na∣tive Symmetry, Extent, Luster and Scope, and this disadvantage is augmented according to the various descents of Inferiority in the persons thus censuring, every lower step from the Prince, ex∣posing them to more egregious probability of being misinformed by reason their Converse, and so the means of Information in these Matters, is confined to men of the same or a very little higher rank then themselves. Now that a Narration passing through so many hands must needs be maimed, and in many things come far short of the intire perfect Original, scarce any indeed will ima∣gine but he whose Fortune in the World, and priviledges of Na∣ture, Education, and Converse, furnish him with the means of receiving such a Story in its several gradual representations from Noblemen and the common people, or any such like disparate ranks of men, so diversly qualified for a Commodious Information in these State Mysteries.

More particularly it may be considered, how great a prejudice devolves on the Vulgar, from the Satyrical Glosses and biting Reflections which by maliciously witty men may, and commonly are interwoven slily in written or traditional Narratives of Princes Transactions: By these Arts an ingenious person indeed may re∣present

a Transaction how he pleases, even so as shall make a deep Impression on the prejudicate and unwary mind, though far enough from the truth. Thus a very good cause may be being disfigured according to their petulant malice appear odious to the Vulgar, who have not the brains to distinguish betwixt the true Story and these subtle deductions, of pre-byass'd men, but swallow all down whole without mincing or chewing, and it goes down the easier in that oftentimes these by-blows are struck with a jerk; I mean that common mode of Satyr which the Vulgar are daily used to, a blunt clownish kind of Wit, which their ordinary Repartees make them very pregnant in, and so the sooner taken with it in any discourse of others, whence it glides with the Contents of the Story into the very inmost recess of their pliable Spirits, rooting its self there as deeply as the true Narration, and by a close mix∣ture of their Idea's they become one: and the man is as firmly per∣swaded of the truth of the collateral gloss, as of the direct tenour of the Story. One may easily guess what it is I aim at by this last consideration; it is only to intimate, that it is not so often the real obliquity of Princes Actions, but a cunningly suborned repre∣sentation of such obliquity that has such influence on the Vulgar weak mind, as to make it sapinely reel into base censoriousness. I have spoken all this while of these Narratives of Princes Trans∣actions which have no certain▪ way of being conveyed to the Pub∣lick notice; but being only traditional, or at best but privately transcrib'd, are obnoxious to various Sophistications, so as 'tis probable very few, if any of them are represented truly to the vulgar Enquirer. But here I am sensible I have exposed my self to a shrewd Objection, for I have seemed to make an Instrument with two handles, that being taken hold of by one, may serve to defend the Prince, but if by the other, may as desperately wound him: For say they, there being such lubricous uncertainty in all Narratives of Princes Actions, many of their ill practises will es∣cape the knowledge of the Subjects, being painted over by In∣teressed persons, in a fine plausible Dress: to which, and to pre∣vent another suspicion in the Reader, I answer, That I aim not to prove that all the Consultations and Actions of Princes are im∣peccable, and need no correction or amendment; this were to de∣ny them to be men, and to absolve them from subjection to the

common frailties and impersections of our Nature: and besides it would be a task so disproportionate to my power, considering at what a vast distance I behold their Actions that I could not possibly in undertaking it, evade the just censure of the Reader; That I have unawares fallen into that self conceitedness and immodesty which I blame in others, in thinking my self capable of having a true account of what Princes do, when the truth of it is, I am so far from thinking so, that I must confess the contrary thought in its full latitude, was the chiefest Motive that induced me to ven∣ture on this Essay. So that I do not pretend in the least that I have a particular knowledge of the Congruity of Princes Actions, be∣yond what other men of the same rank with my self may have: For I must confess that many things I observe in their management of State Affairs, do distress my reason to find a satisfactory ac∣count of, but when I consider how many of their Actions, while Ignorance and Prejudice darkned my understanding, appeared unpleasing, in which yet I now think I discern a manifest discovery of Care for the Publick, at least of lawful and very allowable cir∣cumspection in reference to their personal concern, and those of the Crown, which also are prosecuted in order to the Publick Welfare, when I reflect on my Soveraign as a Christian, and as Signaliz'd with excellent Endowments, and peculiar Accomplish∣ments; when I vew the vast height and distance of his Sphere: In short, when I remember all the fore-going Considerations which set forth the great difficulty of making a true Judgment of their Deportment. I cannot but conclude, that common Ingenuity, Modesty, and Discretion, besides the obligations of Reverence, Gratitude, and Loyal Obedience, make it highly rational for me to check my forward thoughts that would over-hastily venture out of their Sphere, and peremptorily judge of the recluse Affairs of Kings, especially our own most Gracious Soveraign, who has gi∣ven the most Satisfactory Evidence to the World the Rational part thereof could think fit to require; that he is most zealously devoted to the Publick Welfare both of Church and State.

To the Objection therefore I answer more particularly, That 'tis possible some faulty Actions and Counsels of Princes, may by the plausible Rhetorications and smooth Glosses of their Followers be represented to the Vulgar as without Crime: but then again, it

should be considered, that unless it be apparent that all their actions are but painted over, whilst in the mean time they are really crimi∣nal, no man can escape the imputation of gross Censoriousness that will be swayed by every slight Insinuation either of his own suspici∣ous humour, or of other mens malice, to infringe the Sa∣cred Bond of Charity which is in these cases required between Chri∣stians, and should here be elevated into an extraordinary benigni∣ty and generosity of Spirit, but would degenerate into Diabo∣lical baseness, should he without apparent and undeniable Evidence of their truth, give credit to every Report that is raised concern∣ing the ill designs and practices of his Soveraign, especially in this dangerous Crisis of Affairs, when it is so well known to all, and publickly declared by the Discoverer of the Plot, That the Je∣suites are the Fathers and Fomenters of these Stories, hoping thereby to deprave the affections and minds of the People, and to Conjure up the old Spirit of Rebellion, which is commonly usher'd in by an uni∣versal humour of muttering against the Government, as it was in the late Civil Wars, for just before their breaking out, the Jesuites had carried on as desperate a Plot, and broughe it to almost as good matu∣rity as they had done this last, 1678. Only in the very nick of time it was discovered to his Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury, who immediately communicated the Business to the King, and both of them with admirable Industry and Secrecy (as the case required) set them∣selves to Counter-plot that Infernal Society. Now the Jesuites finding themselves defeated in that horrid Enterprise, would not lay down the Cudgels so, but by a strange Retort of Machinations, they gained ground again, and defended themselves best with that which one would think should have destroyed them, that is their Adversaries Weapon; for observing that the common people had got a trick of murmuring and barking at every little flirt of the Robe and Gown, though but the natural result of the graceful meen and deportment of their Wearers. I say observing this, they made use of it to accomplish their Designs, Insiunating every where in all Companies and upon all Occasions, that the King was a Tyrant, and that both he and the Archbishop were little better then Papists; and that they connived at Popery; the One by not using his Authority for its extirpation; the Other by sheltering himself under Royal Protection, and bringing in all manner of Innovations into the Church.

Thus did the Jesuites delude the silly people, filling their Mouths with Complaints against the King, because he did not go their clownish way to work, and knock all Papists on the Head, and because squander'd away so much Money to keep up the Splen∣dour and Grandeur of the Court, (that is as much as to say, be∣cause he did not Cashier Sixteen of the Blood Royal, and their ne∣cessary Retinue at the Court) which is the very Glory of a King∣dom, and the old established Law of the Land: Many other Complaints there were up and down the City and Country among the common people (the Jesuites having envenom'd their Tongues) so that unless the King and the Archbishop had pinched up the Affairs of Church and State to such an intolerable streightness, that nothing of Civil Splendor and Hospitality might be discerned in One, or Sacred Majesty and Venerable Order in the Other. Nay, unless the two fore-mentioned Illustrious and Renowned Persons in going about to stop some small pretended Leaks in the great Body of Ecclesiastical and Secular Polity, had used the Ru∣stick and unartificial hammering of these gross Mechanick Sages, and so endangered an incurable Rupture by Stroaks so dispropor∣tionate to the exquisite Touch of the Civil Law, and the more inviolable Obligations of Christian Charity, they were still mur∣mured at by the quarrelsom Vulgar: For thus it was, that that Malignant Spirit in them had as it were dreined from all parts of the Kingdom those peccant Humours, which though but thinly dispersed, and easily purged out by the Natural Course of the Law, yet by being united in a disadvantageous juncture of Cir∣cumstances, seemed to the unskilful and rash Plebeians to carry the Symptoms of a Mortal Disease. Thus flinging Dirt on the Face of Affairs, and then perswading themselves it was its true Complexion: A very clownish Sophism, and which brought its Reward along with it; for the purblind Fools that had taken such pains to bedaub the Commonwealth, not long after fell over head and ears into the Mire themselves.

For this Insolent Humour was so cherished by the Libels, fly∣ing Reports, and daily Insinuations of subtle Jesuites, who every where had their Instruments at work to raise a Civil War, that at last it grew Rampant, Marriners and such kind of rude Fellows, the very Dregs of the Nation, would strout up and down the City

in Tumults, exclaiming against the Kings Actions, representing him as a Tyrant, and I know not what, till at length they fell to Threats, and so by degrees involved this Kingdom in a most cru∣entous Civil War; and he that shall peruse the Records of other Nations, will find that these Mutterings and Verbal Attempts a∣gainst the Government, were a certain step to the overthrow of the people addicted to them.

And it is as like to be so now as ever, if this Epidemical Vice be not amended, God always punishing Rebellions with Signal Tokens of his Displeasure, making the very Basis and chief Prop of their treacherous Obstinacy (like the Ground whereon stood Corah, Dathan, and Abiram) the very entrance to their destru∣ction. This I mention, that whom the Vitiosity and Turpitude of these Proceedings will not disswade from persisting in them, their usual dangerous Consequence may deter.

And truly if men would but have the patience to search to the bottom of that common Aphorism [That the depraved practises of a People precede their own destruction.] They would find it emi∣nently true in that Crime which is the Subject of this Treatise, and others of that nature▪ Not that they need presently be put to it so as upon every occasion of such Sins in a Nation, to invade the Sab∣batism of the Deity, and conclude the necessity and actual cer∣tainty of his Eruption into immediate personal execution of Justice on the offending people, though sometime the outward Letter of the Scripture, to comply with the Exigencies of laps'd humane Understandings, seem to countenance such a Supposition; but they might discern all these things carried on in a silent natural Concatenation of Causes and Events; men (by these as well as all other vicious courses) not being more the meritorious then re∣ally and physically the instrumental Causes of their own Miseries in this Life; they by their Follies laying such a Train, as (let but the natural course of the World alone) will not fail in time (of∣ten speedily) to intangle them in inevitable punishment, thus becoming by a hidden Fate their own Executioners. So that though these kind of Vices seem to their blind Actors to have no Influence either on their own private Miseries, or on the Calamities of the Publick, yet the unprejudicate will soon grant that the contrary is true, and that such Prevarications by a Divine Nemesis engage

secret invisible Strings in Nature to draw those that are guilty of them, into an undiscerned Labyrinth of Difficulties and Torments; proportionately to the several degrees of their accumulated and repeated Immoralities: and that this is not only certain in mens private troubles, but also in the Calamities that befall the Pub∣lick, there being as it were a Dormient Combination in Mankind, or at least a latent Conspiracy in Nature, that by an eminently re∣ciprocal Cadency of Events, each particular Vice of every indivi∣dual person, in inflicting punishment on himself, should also con∣duce to the sufferings of others, and in conducing to other mens Calamities should again retort a share on himself: Every Member of a Body Politick containing some Arcana and secret Preparatives which once touched are presently spirited with a natural instinct of Affecting the whole. So that none of these Vices though ne∣ver so minute can be committed, which will not in a proportionable measure, by an exquisite Mechanism of Providence, successively a∣waken certain occult aptitudes in humane Converse, and through them impart its malign Influence to the Publick: Though it must be confessed that some Crimes (whose perpetration necessarily en∣gages a more prompt assistance of those hidden Channels▪) do more vigorously, suddenly, and with more apparent success of their dis∣persive noxiousness, infest the Community. Such are those Prevari∣cations which are the various abuses and violations of that Contract, which by the Law of Nature and the positive Obligations of Chri∣stianity is made, and supposed to be actually in force for the com∣mon happiness of Mankind; and which is particularized into di∣verse explicitely limited and peculiarly circumstantiated Leagues of this and that Society of Men between themselves, according to the several distinct Exigencies of Nations and Commonwealths. I say, Crimes that receive their Specification from the Infringement of this Fundamental Law and Bond of Justice, according to the pro∣portion of the rupture do more manifestly damage the Publick, then those which are of a more personal consideration, that is such whose direct Aspect and essential Termination seems to be Con∣fined to the persons that are guilty of them, as Intemperance in its several Latitudes, or the like; though indeed most of them, if not all, do in some measure damage others, but not with so▪ ap∣parent conduciveness to the publick wrong, as those Actions which

necessarily include a more plain and apert relation to another, such are all those which have for their Object the Body, Goods, or good Name of another person.

For in such Transactions, he that prevaricates does immediately and directly injure some body else, and by a vibration of the stroke wherewith he hurt the other, he vuln••rat••s himself also, thus in thinking to jerk his Neighbour, he has made a Rod for his own back too, which the fore-mentioned Nemesis which is interwoven in the very Texture of the Universe, will be sure to lay on in due season, whose subtle Contrivance and unavoidable Lassies in these Instances may be somewhat faintly adumbrated in the usual pas∣time of School▪boys that they call Hitting their next Neighbour; for one of them by smiting him that sits next, snatches him into consent to the Play, and the stroke is carried on to the next, and so round, till the whole School be engaged in a posture of Offence and sportive injuriousness, and the first Striker receives his Blow again, with the advantage that may perhaps arise from the atten∣tive eagerness of his now alarm'd lascivient Companion, besides the Overplus of Penance from his Master, for being the Ringleader in that ominous vanity. I need not stand to apply this Childish Com∣parison, the matter being plain enough, that transitive Vices, acts of injustice among men, do not only wound some one Member of a community, but by reason of Emissions and Circulations of a pec∣cent humour resulting from neglect to cure the first incision, do most commonly corrupt and infect the whole Body, and consequent∣ly the Perpetrators themselves are involved in the general Calamity, especially those acts of Injustice which have Kings for their Object, carry in their Aspect more eminent Menaces of ruine to the peo∣ple guilty of them; and such an one is the Crime I explode in this Discourse, An imrenching on the Sacred Prerogative of Prindes, robbing them of their Honour, a kind of Civil Sacriledge. There are a multitude of Aggravations might be reckoned up to display this Vice in its proper colours, but I shall rather at present discover the danger of it: And if we look back into the Records of former Ages, we may easily be satisfied, that murmuring against Govern∣ours, censuring their proceedings, speaking great swelling words of vanity, was always punished with Signal Tokens of Heavens Displeasure. Without question it was with no languid sentiments

of their own wisdom and skill in Political Affairs, that Corab and his Company ventured to check the supposed Efforts of Tyranny in Moses their Prince, Ye take too much upon you, said they, seeing all the Congregation is holy: Behold here the Insolence of these Re∣bels, who would have Introduced a kind of Anarchy, a thing odi∣ous to God and Man, every man should have been allowed as great a share of that Sanctity which was requisite to a Princes be∣ing invested with the Supreme Authority, as Moses himself the Elect of God, cull'd out and Consecrated from his Infancy, (by preludious Intimations from Heaven) to Rule over that People: I say, these Arrogant Statists thought every man in as fit a con∣dition to manage the Publick Affairs as Moses himself; and no doubt but that Corah's Followers would give themselves the liberty to descant upon this action of Moses and that Counsel, encouraging one another in their Treasonable Thoughts, till at length the Earth open'd her Mouth and overwhelm'd all the Conspirators, that they might be an Example to all Generations, and an Instance of Gods severe displeasure against disloyal and mutinous Pride. Profane Histories also give us an account of the dismal Consequences of this Vice, Rome especially in its rise, growth, and several changeable postures, might furnish us with pregnant Examples to this pur∣pose, but this were to Transcribe a great part of their Writings, who have undertaken to deliver down to Posterity true Narratives of the Affairs of that once flourishing Commonwealth: I might moreover appeal to Modern Histories of our Neighbour Nations concerning this matter, but I think none can parallel our late Ci∣vil Wars for the horrible Consequences that attended on it, and yet all this had its first Original (as I have above hinted)▪ from the sawcy Complaints of a Peace-pamper'd people who took their swinge in muttering at the late King of Blessed Memory, because of some Peccadillo's in Government, that are in one kind or other to be found in any Commonwealth in the World, and are not always to be attributed to any voluntary car••lesness, or Tyrannous Pro∣pensions in the Supream Power, but to the Insuperable Necessities of State. Much less would any ingenuous people have suspected any such Vices in a Prince, who by most unparallel'd Concessions of Princely grace, gave all the Evidence of a faithful and perempto∣ry adhaesion to the good of his Subjects, that he could with ho∣nour

in his Circumstances discover, or any Inhabitants of this Land expect, witness his Noble Condescentions to his Parliament in surrendring the Tower, Militia, and Royal Navy, and Comply∣ing with them in every thing, to the Sacrificing all those Privi∣ledges which are the chief Props of the Royal Prerogative and highest Advantages of the Crown. And yet all these Royal Disco∣veries of an hearty desire to take away groundless Jealousies and Surmizes from his Subjects, could not quell that virulent and im∣placable Spirit which reign'd among the Vulgar, who would not be satisfied with these Concessions to the Demands of the Parlia∣ment, unless his Majesty would also have fulfilled all the bruitish Requests of the Rabble, who in that dangerous juncture of time were very pregnant with ill shaped Petitions to the Houses, a kind of modest commands, hoping by these repeated Insolencies to fright the King into a Compliance with their sordid Proposals: But alas! they were exceedingly mistaken, for the King indeed had yielded in an honourable way to many and most of the Requests put up by his Parliament, yet he would not so far degrade Himself as to let this arrogant carriage in the Vulgar, extort from him any Actions that were repugnant to that regular duct of Reason and Conscience, which he had always followed, and which used to facilitate his passage through the strangest threatning Emergencies in his way: so that though the Common people would make nothing to disgorge their foul cholerick Sentiments in the very Streets, and every publick opportunity, yet this could no ways tempt the Generous and Impas∣sible Mind of His Majesty, to a deviation from his customary path, but trampling on these Rudenesses with a Noble Scorn, He still went forward in the prosecutions of his Councels for the good of the Nation.

And truly in my Opinion, the Vulgar had better use Modesty and Silence, making good Constructions of whatever in the Kings management of Affairs seems doubtful, then by venturing to cen∣sure such Arcana, incur the present probability of being in a gross uncharitable Errour, besides the ineptitude of such presumptuous Ca∣lumnies; for in thus bespattering Princes, they act as vainly and brutishly as Dogs, that (for I know not what currish humour in them) bark at the Moon, who nevertheless keeps on her progress and governs the Night according to the established Laws of the Ʋ∣niverse,

not impeded or retarded in her course, by the quarrelsom exclamations of these petulant Animals: Even so, Princes in their Methods of Policy, are as little concerned at the scurrilous, peevish, and unoccasioned Descants and Aspersions of their Nettled Subjects, but resolutely steer on as the Compass guides them: Therefore if these Despisers of Government would but listen to the Dictates of common Prudence, they would surely be reduced to greater So∣briety; for in thus Railing at the Supreme Power, they either pro∣pose to themselves some end as perhaps the reducing the Supreme Power to condescend to their Humours, which (as I have just now proved) is a very absurd and ridiculous Hope, or else they act without any Design at all, but only in obsequiousness to the Edicts of a Cholerick Nature, and so they discover into what a vicinity of temper they are fallen with the Beasts those 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which act without reason, proposing to themselves nothing, but im∣petuously are hurried into a continual subjection to their Passion, and the predominant heaving of the Plastick Power: So these Rai∣lers seem to be driven on by a Fortuitous Impulse, never consult∣ing with the sober Dictates of Reason.

People have now got a habit of talking and prating about State Affairs, and yet they can give no rational account why they do so, but only to gratifie their Pride and other darling Passions, whilst in the mean time the Devil, and his Ministers the Jesuites, with no small Complacency behold the success of their Designs, laughing to see how easily receptive the People are of all Reports, though ne∣ver so groundless and ridiculous, so they any ways reflect upon the Fidelity and Care of the King, not considering how withal they im∣bibe the noxious extract and Spirit of Envy, Malice, Treason, and other Diabolical Vices that always in these cases envenoms the po∣pular breath: I say, the people do not consider this, but still (as if the old Athenian humour were revived) are inquisitive after News, though all the Aiery Volumes of Fame are stuff'd with no∣thing but Lies concerning His Sacred Majesty, and the slanderous style declares the Authour to be a Jesuite.

Certainly they who had the Impudence enough to call His late Majesty of Blessed Memory, a Bastard, and to deny our Royal Soveraign to be his Son: Thus disanuulling his Title to the Crown, will not stick to make His Subjects believe he is a Tyrant, and to

represent him in any other shape that may alienate their Affecti∣ons: they who had their Missioners in Holland to disaffect that People against the Prince of Orange, by raising Stories concern∣ing his Tyrannous and unjust Designs, are not destitute of as active Agents in this Kingdom to accomplish the same Design; for 'twill be good fishing in troubled waters, since they can do no good in the clear, it will be easie for them to prepare their Gins and tend their Machinations undiscerned, when they have raised a dust to disturb the sight of the Inhabitants, and when we are striving in an unnatural War to undermine, trappan, and destroy each other, Protestant engaged against Protestant, Brother against Brother, Fa∣ther against Son; their business will be to draw the Net suddenly over us, and by the help of a Foreign Invasion and potent Conspi∣racy at home to Involve at all in one Comprehensive Ruine. Have they not endeavoured already to exasperate the German Empe∣rour against His Majesty? By accusing His Majesty of under-hand promoting the Rebellion in Hungary? Have they not gone about to Incense the Spaniard also? As for the French King, they have him Cock-sure already, and if they fail of the others, we are no ways beholding to them, for they have done what they could do. I insist the more on these things to Confirm my Rational Hy∣pothesis, if I may so tearm that which is almost proved to be Mat∣ter of Fact, I mean, That whatever Slanders, occult Aspersions and Calumnies are cast on His Majesty, in flying Reports, and mis∣representations of his Proceedings, are raised and encreased by the Jesuites and their Agents, who lurk up and down in the City, as is apparent, by the frequent Attempts that have been made to fire the same; as also by His Majesties Second Proclamation, For the Departure of all Papists: Wherein mention is made that the occa∣sion of its being put forth, was, the Contempt the Papists shewed of the former, by still continuing in London, contrary to the Tenour of that Proclamation. And we need not question but that they made use of their time in sowing the seed of Sedition and Disloyalty in the hearts of the credulous Citizens. What shall I say more to perswade my Country-men that they are under an Infatuation whilst they thus suffer themselves to be gull'd into their own Destruction, un∣der a pretence of Redress? I mean, whilst they so readily enter∣tain Jealousies, and vent their Suspicions concerning the Proceed∣ings

of His Majesty, styling him a bad Commonwealths-man that will not discover as great a credulity as they. One thing more I will offer to be considered before I conclude.

It may be observed, that this discontented, insolent Humour has Infected the whole World in one measure or other, scarce a Na∣tion to be found wherein some do not find fault with the Political Method of their Governours, and accordingly Reports are scattered up and down ['tis like by some cunning Faction] concerning his Weakness in this Counsel, his Tyranny or perfidiousness in that; so that let his Consultations and Actions be never so wise, and condu∣cive to the Publick Good, yet his Subjects shall have contrary Thoughts of him, being seduced and deluded by these false Ru∣mours, the Offspring of some Trayterous Cabal, such as the Jesuites may be among us: Nay we might produce Instances in our own Nation, and that lately, of this truth: That the Supreme Power has been under an Ʋniversal Odium among the Vulgar, when af∣terwards it is known that He manag'd Things well all that while; So that it is not always a real Fault in the Prince that is the cause of such Censures, but meerly the distemper'd Minds of the Vulgar.

And this I presume will appear more probable, if it be consi∣dered that most generally it is only the baser and most ignorant sort of the people are guilty of this Censeriousness, who have no Gust of that Sublimity that embellishes the Actions and Counsels of Princes, but from their Infancy Imbibe fordid Nations, if not a perfect hatred of what is tinctured with Grandeur, or any ways favours of Royal Magnificence, imagining all things should be done in that mean simple way that they are used to in their Domestick Affairs, their Phantasms of Political Exigencies are vitiated with the Idea's of those Trivial Concerns that engross their Care and Inspection; As if the Intrigues of State must run parallel with those of a private House or Corporation in all their Appendages. This Primitive, and as it were innate disrelish of the Circumstances with which the Crown and Scepter are Invested, is the Basis of all those Grudges, Murmurings, and Jealousies that arise among the Vulgar; for when any thing is suggested that reflects upon the Supreme Power, presently meeting with such a natural antipathy

in men, it awakens and excites it into coactivity, which common∣ly produces a strong byass in the Vulgar to jelousie, so that ever after, they are apt to be born down into a Credulity of any thing that represents the Supreme Power in a posture of Tyranny, and by the weight of their own abject Minds are soon sunk into Censori∣ousness and the depth of verbal disloyalty.

But methinks this vile depression and submersion of the Vulgar should (like the Alternate subsiding Balance) help to buoy up the generous mind: For if only the Vulgar be the men that most generally censure and condemn the Actions of their Prince, a wise man will impute it to their Clownish Ignorance and Morosity, and will follow the Examples of the more Acute and Benign Intelli∣gences, who will not prostitute the Mysteries of State to their own erroneous Judgments, but deny themselves a liberty so constantly resulting from a Servitude to the worst of Passions, and so fre∣quently introducing a Slavery to the basest of Rebels. 'Tis true, it may fall out sometimes, that persons of good quality and ac∣complishments may yet have very ill thoughts of a Prince, who no ways deserves it, but this is but seldom, and then for the most part 'tis their fortune and quality in the World has made them been thought fit Judges of such Matters rather than any real qua∣lification of the Mind; for it has been experienced in other Lands, that men who (whilst they have lived privately and unconcerned) have had no great Vogue among those that knew them for any shrewdness of Judgment, have yet acquired that Commendation, by being publickly rebellious, their being really and notoriously de∣praved, rendring their wisdom conspicuous, but it was but only to them that had but a small share of it, or common honesty them∣selves; for to knowing persons they appear'd only as Usurpers of the Title [Wise] possessing it by no natural propriety, which is evidenced in that their Judgments in all those matters which are requisite preparations to a capacity of being a Critick in State Af∣fairs, have been found very deficient: There is required indeed a naturally active Spirit, before a man, even to the shallow Vulgar, can pretend with any colour of reason to judge of those high mat∣ters; now this activity of Spirit however otherwise uncultivated, yet if it can but discover its self in a sagacious management of Do∣mestick businesses, or the ordinary Affairs between man and man;

'tis sufficient in the eye of the Vulgar, who measure all Accom∣plishments by their own, and think him a very valuable man who exceeds them in such ordinary trivial matters, though they slight and contemn Persons of higher Endowments, because they are above their narrow Apprehensions; but the other they will esteem fit for any thing, even to manage Kingdoms if need be, and their estimation will be encreased if to their natural sagacity in some things there be added a Confident Deportment in reference to higher Concerns: Thus Coblers by being sharp, active Fellows, and by a little Converse with History, have gained sometimes on the Vul∣gar so as to be raised by such disorderly Rabbles to high preferment, only on the account of their loud ratling out of hard Names of pla∣ces, and great men in foreign Countries: such Pedantick Tricks have recommended many to the unskilful, as very able men, well versed in Political Affairs, and he could not be thought less than a States-man who would embellish his Discourse with those lofty Strains, wherein either some of the Polish Iskis, Eskis, Oskis or Ʋs∣kis made up each Period. Such sublime pedantry as this is often adopted by the amaz'd Vulgar for sublime wisdom; whereas in the truth it is but the garish display of a volatile Fancy: and be∣cause that effeminate faculty is for the most part predominant a∣mong the lower orders of Mankind, they are snatched into a con∣sent and sympathetical adherence to any thing that is tinctured with it.

Thus the slight and unsolid Rhetorications of an ordinary con∣fident Critick, dragg the supine Vulgar into the filth of Censorious∣ness and civil blasphemy of things they know not, making them to set their Mouths against the Heavens, and with a Train of their im∣pudent Lyes, like Lucifer the Father of Lyes, to dethrone the Stars if it were possible. And these are somewhat a kin to those whom in the Fifth Page of this Treatise I call by the Name of State-Fana∣ticks, a whimsical race of people that the Jesuites seduce, by in∣fusing into them an inchanting Ferment, a Hotch-potch of State-Heresies drawn from Casuists, Civilians, and corrupted Divines: Not that I think every one that talks about these things to be vers'd in the whole System of such Jesuitical Doctrines, for as I have above said, many illiterate persons may gain the Credit of being States∣men among the Vulgar by some Pedantick Tricks, as voluble dis∣course,

confident deportment, and the like, who yet may be alto∣gether devoid of any smattering in that other Learning; but yet there are too too many whose Fancies being parturient, verifie that in the Civil Law which my Lord Verulam observed of Phi∣losophy, a little of which will make a man an Atheist: for these Semi-Civilians, like those Philosophasters, sit down contented with that small discovery the first Stage gives them in the Law of Na∣ture and Nations, and so make false conclusions, couching the most copious Hypotheses and Questions within the narrow limits of their Inchoate knowledge, especially being blinded by their sedu∣cing Guides, the Jesuites, and falsly perswaded that all Secular Science was contained in that Fragment they were acquainted with, (like the Rusticks who think the utmost limits of the World ex∣tend no farther then the Margin of the visible Horizon) whereas if they had the patience to go on, and their Understandings were not darkned, they would find that each step enlarged their pro∣spect, till they had gone over the whole Sphere of Political Wis∣dom, returning to the Point whence they set forth, where they might recollect with themselves, that as in all Orbs, so in this Circle of Humane Learning, there was a vicissitude of Superiori∣ty; that is, they who have compleated their Knowledge and fi∣nished their Disquisitions in the truth, may yet remember how variously they have altered their opinions of things, according to the strength or weakness of Arguments occurring in their way, and therefore ought not to be dazled into a hasty implicite As∣sent to any thing by its vigour and flashy light, without examining or making a Scrutiny, whence the Ray proceeded, whether from Heaven or Hell, (for that has its counterfeit Beams also.)

To make my meaning more plain, It is well known that many Mechanick persons of otherwise jejune Intellects, will yet pretend to a smack in that spurious mixture of Democratical Policy that is pickt out of some Heathen Writers, some Papists, and not a few Protestants, and all Incorporated into one Mass, and Informed by that Soul of Atheism and Heresie, Mr. Hobbs: These Mechanicks I say, will insist on the Notions of Natural Liberty and Supremacy in the people, and such like stuff, having Imbib'd these Principles either immediately from Books, or from their Converse with men who have read those Books, which though they have gone

Incognito for good Orthodox Protestant Writings, yet are often∣times discovered, or at least may very reasonably be suspected to bethe Product of a Jesuites Brain. However, it is certain such Books are written and entertain'd by many seeming intelligent per∣sons, and no question but the Jesuites have seconded them with their personal Insinuations among the Gentry; so that these He∣resies are grown almost Epidemical, and therefore by consequence the whole Land must needs incur the Pestil ential Infection: hence proceed all those heart-burnings, and their evil effects, such as bitter and unfavoury Expressions, belch'd out against His Majesty, and his Proceedings, enough to make any other Prince Nauseate the unmannerly and ungrateful Vulgar; but our Gracious Soveraign has from his first Inauguration to the Throne, habituated himself to Clemency, and unparallel'd benign Candour to his Subjects, never re∣venging himself for all the barbarous cruelty his Father or Himself have undergon.

But I forget that it is an Essay I am writing, and yet I have no reason to do so, the very Immethodical Style might put me in mind of that: And indeed were I not conscious of its being Com∣mensurate to an Essay, I would beg the Readers excuse for Pub∣lishing so confused a Collection of Thoughts. However this I may say, That though it be void of Symmetry, yet that deficiency is made up in the multitude and validity of its Arguments, which though scattered without Order in the Discourse, may yet be redu∣ced to it by the active and sagacious mind, the disjoynted parcels being by that penetrating vertue setled, and by Intellectual Liga∣ments united in their proper respects and uses to the design of the whole SCHEME.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Maimon. More Nev. Part. 2. cap. 41. Sci••o quod omnium eorum Prophetar. qui Pro▪ be∣tiam sibi factam esse dicunt, quidam eam Angelo alicui, quidam vero Deo Opt. Max. ascribant & attribuant licèt per Angeli mini∣sterium quoque ipsis ob••igerit. &c. Vide Smiths Select Dis∣courses.
• * 1.2

  See the Notes on Dr. More's Poems.