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SINCE I am discoursing of the paralel of the flourishing state of the Church of England, formerly and now: I think we ought seriously to reflect how gracious our King is to us, and how little a share of liberty to his Catholics, he is content with.
None sure could have count∣ed it injustice, if our Sovereign had chosen his own Royal Chap∣pel, in his own Palace, to have performed his Devotions in; whereas he quits that to the Prince and Princess, to the Archbishops, great Ministers of State, the Nobility, Bishops, and Protestants of all ranks; and contents himself with the Queens Chappel at St. James's, hath only one Bishop, his Con∣fessarius, and a small number of Chaplains, and circumscribes his Processions within the Cloy∣ster of that small Convent: And at Windsor (his Summer∣Palace) leaves the Collegiate Church to Protestants, and only keeps to himself the small new Chappel adjoyning to St. Georges Hall, which if he had not taken (though some unquiet Spirits made such a noise at it) he must have had no place there for his Devotion.
The King graciously allows us the Cathedrals, Parish-Churches and Chappels, and the free and unrestrained exercise of our Re∣ligion; have we reason then to grudge him two or three small Chappels, and the Subjects of his Faith, their Private Ora∣tories?
We have had a further In∣stance of his Majesties tender∣ness in protecting the Church of England, in the Letter sent to the two Arch-bishops, at such time when it was generally bruited abroad (we may judge by whose Artifice and Malice) that the King intended to pro∣hibite preaching of Controver∣sies, betwixt the Church of Rome and us, and to take away Lectures, and Afternoon Preach∣ing; whereas we find by the Instructions annexed to the Let∣ter, That it was no more than had been done in King James's, and in King Charles the First's
time, and was verbatim what had been published by King Charles the Second: And in stead of restraining our Mini∣sters from preaching in defence of the Church of England, it is allowed, yea appointed them, so it be done according to the Instructions.
Let us therefore receive these largesses of Princely Favours, with dutiful and thankful Hearts; and by no petulancy, or unnecessary eagerness for more, indanger the loss of what we enjoy. And I doubt not but Roman Catholics will al∣low something to a people de∣voted to their Religion, and di∣stinguish betwixt those that are, and ever will be, truly Loyal, even under Sufferings; and a party that seek all opportunities to repine.