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. VII.

1. We do most heartily desire you to consider, whether these Prose∣cutions be ever like to obtain the end you intend and design by them: By them you intend either our Conversion to the Church of England, or our utter Subversion and Destruction. We have said already, that Arguments taken from the sale of our Goods, the Imprisonment of our Persons, and Seizure of our Estates, have no force nor cogency upon our minds; they are no more affected with them, than our Eyes are with the sound of an Organ, or our Taste with the beams of Light, and lustre of the Sun. Without doubt (sayes a very grave Historian) we have learned by experience, that Religion is neither planted nor rooted out by violent means. Mens Consciences must be gently intreated, not violently forced. De Sorres.

2. But if you should design to destroy us, give us leave to ask you, whether you do imagine the present Prosecutions a probable or likely means of accomplishing it? have you never read the Histo∣ries of past Ages and Generations? do you know nothing of former times? have you never observed such means fail, and such attempts prove utterly unsuccessful? 'twere easie to produce Volumes of Proofs and Instances thereof without number. We shall mention the words of Du Plessis, in his Remonstrance to the Estates of Blois, where speaking concerning the Hugonots, in the person of a Roman Catholick he thus expresses himself: An Commencement nous les a∣vous brusles, &c. At first we burnt them alive, without any distinction of sex or quality; we were so far from destroying them thereby, that on the contrary, they extinguished our Fires by their Blood, and were in∣creased by our Flames: Afterwards we drowned them, and one would think that they multiplied like Fish in the waters. When their numbers were increased, we fought, and beat them in many Battels; but thô we defeated them, we could never overcome them. We made them drunk with Wine, or rather Blood, at a Royal Nuptial Festivi∣ty; we chopt off their Heads whilst they were sleeping, and within a

few dayes we beheld them with our Eyes revive, and rise again as strong as before, and with Heads more hard and brazen than ever. Vid. Me∣moirs, Vol. 2. Pag. 23.

3. And what if your Persecutions should have the same effect? what if our numbers should be encreased thereby? and we dare as∣sure you, 'tis neither impossible nor improbable; for when we are prosecuted, and hunted like Beasts of Prey, the Common-people (that know no hurt by us, but only that we do not pray by your Liturgy, nor serve God according to your Laws, thô we do it accor∣ding to his, which a man would think should be as well) will pi∣ty and love us: They will think, that we are more likely to be the Servants of God, and of his Christ, than those that persecute and destroy us; They will think us more likely to be Doves, than the Kites and Hawks that rend us in pieces and devour us. They will espouse our Opinions, and come over to our Communion and Congre∣gations.

4. Yea, almost all those of your own Church, that have any sense or fear of God before their eyes, will be moved with Bowels of Compassion towards us: They will think us more worthy of the favour and protection of the Government and Laws, than those Sons of Cain, that seek our Calamity and Ruine. Some there are that have been sufficiently sharp against us, (and peradventure, much of the present Persecutions may be owing thereunto) who, we make no doubt, will be kinder to us within a little time, because we be∣lieve they fear God. Relations frequently quarrel, and sometimes on pitiful occasions; but there is a radicated love in them towards each other, which prevails against all their Heats and Passions, and doth reconcile them again to a mutual tenderness and dearness. Good men may quarrel, and conceive little piques and animosities against each o∣ther, (so did Paul and Barnabas) but at the bottom there lies that fear of God, and love to each other, that will reconcile them again, especially, when one or both come to be afflicted and distressed. Hoop∣er and Ridley were very good Friends when they were in Gaol, thô there were some little differences between them when they were at Liberty.

5. We find by observation, that among the Members of your Church, those that are most replenished with the Love of God and Man, and do partake most in the nature and Spirit of the Gospel, are the greatest Enemies to our Persecution; they do already pity us, and will do more as our Afflictions grow and press upon us: The learned Author of the Protestant Reconciler, the Author of the Conformists Pleas for the Nonconformists, Mr. Samuel Bold, and the

Countrey Conformist, all thorough Church-men, (but as we believe, of candid and Christian Tempers and Spirits) have sufficiently de∣clared that they are no promoters of Persecution, but have a very hearty aversation for it.

6. And all men of the same Spirit will favour us, and oppose your Severe and Cruel manner of Proceedings: You will divide your own Church, and encrease our numbers by your Persecutions, and perhaps there may be no way of rooting out Dissenting Protestants in England, but by turning it into a Wilderness, which whosoever shall attempt, will in our Opinion attempt also his own ruine.