The Review, or, A representation of the late sufferings & condition of the dissenters written some years since, but not then suffer'd to come abroad : now publish'd as well to encrease their gratitude to the King for delivering them from all those calamities, as to excite them to joyn vigorously in all lawful means that many conduce to the prevention of their falling under the like, or worse severeties hereafter.

SECT. 11.

1. We do with all humility beseech you to believe, that such hath been the Birth, Education, and Spirit of some of us, that nothing but conscience towards God, and fear of everlasting Condemnation, would have made us chuse the way that we have taken, and the party that we have espoused. We have not been without inclinations to Conformity, both formerly, and of late; since the Laws have raged so furiously against us; we having not been without temptations to have chosen the way, in which digneties, Riches and Honours are to be found, (nor do we think so meanly of our selves, but that we might have obtained

our share in them) but Conscience hath laid those Blocks in our ways, that we have not been able to get over, nor we believe never shall. We have Transcribed some Paragraphs from Du Plessis, we will take the Liberty to take a few more Lines from him. Thus he expresses himself, speaking to the King. I shall without fiction tell y••ur Majesty, that for these Twelve Years, and more, I have endeavoured by all means to become a Catholick, but hitherunto I have not been able to attain it; I have often considered, that after the fav••ur ••f God, there is nothing in the World so precious, as that of a mans Prince. I have Flesh enough to desire the Riches and Honour of this World, and not so little Spirit, but that I know, the Religion that I follow, is not the way in which they may be found: I set my self to read all the Books that I could find, I conferred with Learned Men wheresoever I met with them. My Flesh and Spirit always c••ncurred to Fortifie their Arguments, and I desired nothing more then to be conquered by them. In fine Sir, I must tell y••ur Majesty, my Conscience would, and did prevail against all their Discourses, alth••ugh it saw nothing but Disgraces, Losses, and Dangers, as the Reward of the Victory. Thus fare that good Man.

2. Nothing almost could have better expressed the motions and pas∣sions of our Souls, then the words of this excellent Person. We have not been without dispositions to have taken the way of serving God, that might have advanced us, or at least have supplied us with Fo••d, and Rayment, and necessary support for our Selves and Families. We have read, and considered, what hath been said to justifie and perswade conformity. Our own Flesh, Passions, and Affections, have Disputed earnestly, and subtilly in favour of it, but Conscience hath hitherunto prevailed. We are afraid of the Worm that never dyes, and the Fire that never does go out. We chuse rather to serve God in a poor and mean condition, with the approbation of our Consciences, then in, and with a more splended, and large Estate, to the regret, and offence of them.

3. We are not in love with Poverty and Rags, no more then we are with Sicknesses and Diseases. 'Tis no pleasure to us, to be distressed, for the maintenance of our selves, and those that are near, and dear to us. Some of us have Children, that would be glad of other Em∣pl••yments, then a Wheel, or a Cart; and we have the tenderness, and bowels of Parents towards them, and though we do not desire great things for them; yet we cannot but wish them a little advanced above the common drudgeries, and servilities of life. But all this, and a great deal more we can endure, when we remember that our Lord Jesus, who was in the form of God, and thought it no robbery to be equal

with God; yet took upon him the form of a Servant, and made himself of no Reputation.

4. We would be glad to have the favour of our Soveraign, and of his Inferiour Magistrates, and Officers. The wrath of a King is as the roaring of a Lyon, and the displeasure of his Ministers, and Servants, is uneasie enough, as we find by wooful experience. We take no pleasure in the frowns of a Mighty Monarch, nor do we chuse to be liable to thunder. We are not fond of the indignation of his Officers, nor is there any reason for it, that we can find. We should rejoyce in the favour of him, and them. But there is a King Superiour to him, and his Officers are much more terrible, and dreadful. If we cannot have the favour of them all, we will make that which we think the wisest, and the safest choice. We will chuse the favour of God (the great Soveraign of the World) and of his Angels, the Ministers of his Empire, before that of any Prince or Subordinate Officers upon Earth.