State tracts, being a farther collection of several choice treaties relating to the government from the year 1660 to 1689 : now published in a body, to shew the necessity, and clear the legality of the late revolution, and our present happy settlement, under the auspicious reign of their majesties, King William and Queen Mary.

Some Reflections on a Discourse, called, Good Advice to the Church of England, &c.

SIR,

I Have, at last, procured a sight of the Book, stiled, Good Advice to the Church of England, Roman Catholick and Protestant Dissenter; and of the Three Letters from a Gentleman in the Countrey to his Friend in London; which, as they are written by one and the same person, so he endeavours, in all of them, to make it appear to be the Duty, Principles, and Interest of the parties mentioned, to Abolish the Penal Laws and Tests. Now though I'm daily in expectation of seeing such an Answer returned to those Papers, as will both give the Author cause to wish he had been otherways imploy'd when he wrote them, and make the Court-Faction asham'd of the Elogies they have heapt upon him for his service; yet it may not be amiss in the mean time, to shew, in a very few Pages, that 'tis not any considerable strength in those Discour∣ses, which hath given them a Reputation, but the Interest of some to have every thing accounted unanswerable that is published in favour of their Designs, and the folly and weakness of others, which makes them believe that to be nervous, in whose success they imagine their case to be wrapt up and involved.

I think it is universally acknowledged, and I'm sure it can be demonstratively pro∣ved, that they are written by a Quaker; and this ought to render us jealous both of the motives influencing unto it, and of the end to which they are designed to be sub∣servient. For first, the affinity of several of the Religious Principles of that party, with some of the material Doctrines of the Roman Church, may, notwithstanding the Chari∣ty which we retain towards the Bulk of them, make us justly apprehensive, that one or more of their Leaders are intirely in the Interest of the Church of Rome. For as the Popish Emissaries know how to put themselves into all shapes, for the increasing and height∣ning divisions among Protestants, and for the exposing as well as supplanting of our Religion; so the design promoted in the foresaid Papers, of destroying all the Le∣gal Fences against Popery, and of letting the Papists into the Legislative and whole Exe∣cutive Power of the Government, gives the World too much ground to suspect out of whose mint and forge writings of this stamp and mettle do proceed? Secondly, It should not a little contribute to augment our Jealousie, that they who without being false to their Religious Tenets, cannot joyn to assist Protestants, in case the Papists should attempt to cut our Throats, or endeavour to impose their Religion upon the Nation by Military force; should, of all men, study to overthrow that Se∣curity which we have, by the Test Laws, whose whole tendency is onely to prevent the Papists, from getting into a condition to extirpate our Religion, and destroy us. Is it not enough that they have rob'd the Kingdom of the Aid of so many as they have leavened with their Doctrine, in case the King, upon despairing to establish Popery by a Parliament, should imploy his Janizaries to compel us to receive it, and should set upon the converting Protestants in England, in the way that the French Monarch hath converted the Huguenots; but that over and above this, they should be doing all they can, to deprive us of all the Legal Security, whereby we may be pre∣served from the Power of the Papists? Surely 'twere not Charity and good Nature, but stupidity and folly, not to suspect the tendency of such a design, when we find it pursued and carried on by a person that stiles himself a Quaker.

But then, when besides this, we find that 'tis Mr. William Pen, who is the Author of those Papers, and the great Instrument in advancing this projection, we have the more cause to suspect some sinistrous thing at the bottom of it. For first, he is under those Obligations to His Majesty, which, as they may put a biass upon his Understanding, so they afford ground enough to Protestants to look upon him no otherways than as one Retained against them. 'Twas through his present Majesties Intercession with the late King, that he obtained the Proprietorship of Pensilvania, and from his Bounty that he had the Propriety of Three whole Counties bordering upon it superadded thereunto. And as this cannot be but a strong Obligation upon so grateful a person as Mr. Pen, why he should effectually serve the King, and make his Will, in a very great degree, the measure of his actings; so it ought to be an Inducement to others to be the more jealous of all he say's, and not to surrender themselves too easily either to his Magi∣sterial Dictates upon the one hand, or to his smooth Flatteries upon the other. He must have either laid a mighty merit upon the two Royal Brothers, of both whose Religion we are at last convinced, or he must have come under Obligations, of doing them very

considerable service, in reference to that which they were most fond of compassing; o∣therways we have little cause to think, that he would have been singled out from all the rest of the Kingdom, to be made the object of so special favour, and of so eminent li∣berality. For though there might be a debt owing to his Father Sir William Pen, yet they must be extreamly weak, who conceive there was no other motive to the fore∣mentioned Donation, save Honour and Justice in the two Royal Brothers, for having it discharged. Seeing many of the noblest Families in England, who had spent their Blood, and wasted their Estates in fighting for the Crown, while Sir William Pen was all along ingaged against it, were not only left without all kind of Compensation, for what they had eminently acted, and as eminently suffered in behalf of the Monarchy, but could never get to be reimbursed one farthing of the vast Sums, which they had lent the late King and his Father upon the security of the Royal Faith. Secondly, Mr. Pen hath too far detected himself in these very Discourses, not to give us ground to sus∣pect what they are calculated for, and whereunto they are subservient. For besides his justifying the King's turning so many Gentlemen of the Church of England out of all Office and Imploy, by saying, they are not fit to be trusted, who are out of the King's In∣terest; he further tells us, that the King being mortal, it is not good sense, that he should leave the power in those hands, that to his face shew their aversion to the Friends of his Com∣munion. (Letter first.) For as this implies no less, than that they ought to have the whole Legal and Military Power of the three Kingdoms put into their hands, that they may be in a condition to preclude the right Heir from Succession to the Crown, or pre∣scribe such Laws to her as they please, in case they should think fit to admit her; so a very small measure of Understanding, will serve to instruct us, what the Papists esteem to be an aversion to them, and in what manner, had they the power in their hands, they think themselves obliged to treat us upon that account. And as we have had occasion to know too much of his Majesties Temper and Design, as well as to whose Guidance he hath implicitely resigned himself, not to be sensible what he esteems his Interest; so we need no other evidence what it amounts unto to be in it, than the seeing so many displaced from all share in the administration, whose Quality gives them a Right, and their Abilities a fitness for the chiefest and most honourable Trusts; and whom as the King, by reason of their services to himself as well as the Crown, cannot lay aside with∣out the highest ingratitude; so their known Loyalty to his person, and zeal for the grandure of the Monarchy is such, that nothing could take them off from concurring in his Councils, and promoting his Designs, but the conviction they are under, of their tendency to the subversion of Religion, and the altering of the Legal Govern∣ment.

And as we have reason to suspect what the foresaid Papers are intended to promote, both upon the account of the Author's being Quaker, and because not onely of the ma∣ny Obligations he is under to His Majesty, but his being so intirely in his Interest, as appears by his influence into Councils, the great stroke he hath in all Affairs, and from his being one of the King's principal Confidents; so upon looking into those Discour∣ses, we find several things obtruded on us for truth, and proposed in order to whee∣dle and insnare us into an abrogation of the Laws enacted for our security, which to every ones knowledge are so palpably false, that we have all the ground that may be, both to question and suspect his sincerity, and to conclude, that his Masters do not pur∣pose to confine themselves within the bounds that he is pleased to chalk out for them; and which he undertakes they shall be contented with for their allotment. For what can be remoter from Truth? than that the Test Laws were designed as a preamble to the Bill of Exclusion, (as he phrases it, Letter first) and that they were contrived to exclude the Duke of York from the Crown, (as he expresseth it, p. 15. of his Good Advice, &c.) when it is most certain, that as the Test in 73. was made long before there were, or could be any thoughts of it, and was enacted by a Parliament against whose Loyalty there can be no exception; so there was a clause in the last Test Act, by which it was provided, that he should not be obliged to take it. Again, what can be more re∣pugnant to experience, than that the King onely desires ease for those of his Religion; (Good Adv. p. 44.) and that the Papists desire no more than a Toleration, and are willing upon those Terms, to make a perpetual peace with the Church of England, (Good Advice, p. 17.) For do we not daily see Protestants turned out of all Places of Trust, Authority and Command; and Papists advanced into all Offices Military and Civil; Could the King have been contented with a Non-execution of the Laws against those of his Commu∣nion, and could they have been satisfied with such an Indulgence, and have modestly improved it? 'Tis not improbable but that such a behaviour, would have so far pre∣vailed upon the ingenuity and good nature of the generality of Protestants, that with∣out needing to have been importuned, they would have repealed all the Penal Laws

against Roman Catholicks. But the methods which have been pursued by his Maje∣sty and them, shews, both that they aim at no less than the Domination, and that we must be very willing to be deceived, if we either credit Mr. Pen, or suffer our selves to be influenced by him, after his obtruding upon us for truths, matters, which our very senses inable us to refute. It may justly make us question his sincerity, and beget a suspition in all thinking people, of the sinistrous design these Papers are adap∣ted unto, when we find him endeavouring to cajole the Nation to an abrogation of the Laws, by which our Religion and Safety are secured, by telling us. That the King's word is enough for us to rely upon, if they were gone, (Good Advice, p. 49.) and that he could easily pack a Parliament for Repealing them, if he did not seek a more lasting and more agreeable security to his Friends, (Letter third, p. 12.) and that if they were abolished, 'tis below the Glory of our King, to use ways so unlike the rest of his open and generous principles, as to endeavour to get a Parliament afterwards returned, that is not duly chosen (Letter second, p. 15.) and that he is a Prince of that Honour, Conscience and ge∣neroas nature, as not by invading the Rights of the Church of England, to become guilty of an injustice and irreligion, he hath so often, so solemnly and earnestly spoken against (Letter se∣cond, p. 11.) He must needs take us to be strangely unacquainted with the whole Te∣nor of the King's Actings in England, as well as in Scotland and Ireland, and to be per∣sons of very weak understandings, and of an easie belief, if he think we are to be im∣posed upon, and decoy'd by such Topicks as these, to absolish the Tests: or that after what we have seen and felt contradictory to those Panegyricks, and inconsistent with those beautiful and lofty Characters fastned upon his Majesty, we should believe Mr. Pen to mean nothing but well and honestly towards the Protestant Interest, in what he so earnestly solliciteth the Church of England and the Dissenters in the foremention∣ed Papers to concurr and consent unto.

I do acknowledge, that what he hath said about Liberty, due to men in matters of meer Religion, and by way of rebuke unto, and reflection upon the Wisdom and Justice of those, that either are, or have been for persecution, is very strong and con∣vincing; but I must withall add, that it is all at this time very needless and imper∣tinent. For the Church of England is so sensible of the Iniquity, as well as folly of that Method, that there is no ground to suspect She will ever be guilty of it for the future. They, whom no Arguments could heretofore convert, the Court (whose Tools they were in that mischievous and Unchristian work, and by whom they were instigated to all the severities which they are now blamed for) by objecting it to them as their Reproach and Disgrace, and by seeking to improve the resentments of those who had suffered by Penal Laws, to become an united party with the Papists for their subversion, hath brought them at once to be asham'd of what they did, and to Resolutions of promoting all Christian Liberty for the time to come. And should there be any peevish and ill-natur'd Ecclesiasticks, who, upon a turn of Affairs, would be ready to reassume their former principles, and pursue their wonted course; we may be secure against all fear of their being successful in it, not only by finding the Majority as well as the more learned, both of the dignified and inferior Cler∣gy, unchangeably fixed and determined against it, but by having the whole Nobili∣ty and Gentry, and those Noble Princes whose right it will be next to ascend the Throne, fully possessed with all the generous and Christian purposes we can desire, of making provision for Liberty of Conscience by a Law. Nor can I forbear to subjoyn how surprizing it ought to be to all Protestants, that while Mr. Pen ex∣presseth so much charity for the Papists, he entertaineth so little for the Church of England. He would perswade us, that if the Penal and Test Laws were abro∣gated, the Papists would be so far afterward from seeking to shake the Constitu∣tion of the Church of England, or from breaking in upon the Liberty that is now vouchsafed unto Dissenters, or from endeavouring to make their Religion National; that they would not onely be contented with a bare Toleration, but that upon their enjoyment of ease by Law, they would turn good Countrymen, and come in to the Interest of the Kingdom, (Letter first.) Whereas at the same time, he would have us believe, that all the Protestations of those in the Communion of the Church of England for exercising Moderation in time to come, are but the Language of their fear, that their promises are not to be trusted, (Good Advice, p. 54.) and that the Dissenters deserve to be begged for Fools, should they be satisfied with any less assurance, than the abolition of the Penal and Test Laws, (ibid. p. 55.) 'Tis enough, not onely to excite our Jealousie, but to stir up severer passions, to be told at a season when we know what the Catholicks are doing in France, and in most other places where they have any power, that the Papists through ha∣ving burnt their fingers with persecution, may be grown so wise as to do so no more;

and yet to have it asserted in the same Page, that they who can be prevailed upon to believe, that the Church of England is sorry for what She hath done, and that she will not be guilty of such a thing again, have little reason to quarrel at the unaccount a∣bleness of Transubstantiation. (Good Advice, p. 8.) Nor is it becoming one who stiles himself a Protestant, no more than it is consistent with Truth, to extenuate our being scandal'd at the severity upon Protestants in France, by affirming, that he can parallel some of the severest passages in that Kingdom, out of the Actions of some Members of the Church of England in cool Blood, (ibid. p. 7.) And though I have all the kindness imaginable for Mr. Pen's Person, and am loath to think otherways of him, as to his Religious Principles, than as his avowed profession discovers him; yet these, and diverse passages more of that kind, together with the accession he must necessarily have had to the apprehension and imprisonment of Mr. Gray. &c. for abandoning the Benedictine Order; are things I can neither reconcile to the title he as∣sumes, nor to his many Discourses for Repealing the Test Laws. And to speak freely, considering the Nature of our Laws against Papists, and that it was their manifold Treasons, and onely our care to preserve our selves, that both gave the first rise unto them, and has necessitated their continuance; I know neither how to construe that Assertion of Mr. Pen's (Good Advice, p. 13.) that the Principle which the Church of England acts by, justifies the King of France and the Inquisition; nor that other, (Letter first) of there having been eight times more Laws made for ruin∣ing men for their Conscience, since the Church of England came to be the National Establishment, than were all the time that Popery was in the Chair. Nor can this be designed to any other end, but the giving the Church of Rome the commendation of Mercy and Moderation above a Protestant Church. For as 'tis certain, that the one Law of Burning and Extirpating Hereticks, was a thousand fold worse, and hath produced infinitely more Sanguinary effects, than all the Laws and Rigours that the Church of England can be charged with; so there is nothing can be falser, than that either her Principle, or Practice, do parallel or justifie the barbarous and brutal severities of the French King, and the Inquisition.

Moreover, were all Protestants agreed, that Liberty, in meer matters of Religion, should be immediately granted in a Legal way; yet I do not see how the Papists should pretend to any benefit by it, or be able to lay a just claim to a share in it. So that the foundation which Mr. Pen goes upon, of mens having a Right to be indul∣ged in matters of Religion, is too narrow to support the structure he raiseth upon it. For though there may be some things retained in Popery, which may be cal∣led matters of Religion; yet in the bulk and complex of it, it is a Conjuration a∣gainst all Religion, and a Conspiracy against the Peace of Societies, and the Rights of Mankind. 'Tis one of the Crimes, as well as the Miseries of this Age, that out of a dread of some, and in complacence to others, we have avoided representing Popery in its native colours, and calling it by the Names properly due unto it. But I have always thought, that 'tis better fail in our Courtship to Men, than in our duty to God, and fidelity to the Interest of Jesus Christ, and the safety of Mankind. Nor do I doubt but that they will be better approved in the Great day of Account, who Character Persons, Doctrines and Practices as the Scripture doth, than they, who that they may accommodate themselves unto, and be acceptable with the world, speak of them in a softer stile. Now if either Blasphemies against God, or Tyrannies over Men; if either the defacing the Ideas of a Deity, or corrupting the Principles of Vertue, and Moral Honesty; if either the subverting the foundations of natural Re∣ligion, or the overthrowing the most essential Articles of the Christian Faith; if either the most avowed and bold affronts offered to heaven, or the bloodiest and most bru∣tal outrages executed against the best of men; if all these be sufficient to preclude a party from the benefit of Liberty due to people in Religious Matters, I am sure, none have reason to challenge it in behalf of the Papists, nor cause to complain, if it be denied them. Can there be any thing more unreasonable, than that they should claim a Toleration in a Protestant State, whose Principles not only allow, but oblige them to destroy us, as soon as their power inables them to do it? Is not the Doctrine of the Pope's Supremacy, and his having a Right to Depose Kings, and absolve Subjects from their Allegiance, together with that of breaking Faith to Hereticks, and the extirpa∣ting all those who cannot believe as the Church of Rome doth, mighty inducements to those whom they have baptized with that Name, and to whom they long to ex∣ercise that courtesie, for the Repealing of the Penal and Test Laws against Pa∣pists? Nor are these Principles falsely charged upon them, but they are the Oracular Decisions of their General Councils and Popes, whom they stile Infallible. So that Mr. Pen's Book and Letters, which seem to have been written not so much in fa∣vour

of Dissenting Protestants, as of Roman Catholicks, can little advantage the latter, even allowing the Principle which he goes upon, and admitting all he hath said for Mens Right to Liberty in meer matters of Religion, to be unanswerable. And his telling us (Good Adv. p. 42.) that Violence and Tyranny are not natural consequences of Popery, does onely discover his kindness to Rome, and the little Friendship and care he hath for the Protestant Interest. For we know both the Principles of their Religion too well, and have at all times experienced, and do at this day feel the effects of them too sensibly, to be deluded by this kind of Sophistry, and imposed upon by so palpable a Falsehood, to abandon the means of our safety. Wheresoever any Po∣pish Rulers Act with Gentleness and Moderation towards those whom their Church hath declared Hereticks; 'tis either because there are Political Reasons for it, as might be easily shewed in reference to all those States and Governments which he mentions, or because there are some Princes of the Roman Communion, in whom the Dictates of Humane Nature are more prevalent than those of their Religion.

But should the gentle Temper of the English Nation, sway them beyond the strict obligations of duty, and make them willing to Repeal the Penal Laws against Papists; yet to do it in their present Circumstances, and at such a conjuncture as this, were the highest act of folly in the world, and a betraying both their own safety and that of their Religion. Had the Roman Catholicks forbore to assume a liberty till it had been legally given them; they had been the more capable objects of such a Grace; but to bestow it upon them after they have in contempt and defiance of all our Laws taken it, 'twere to justify their usurpation, and approve their crime. Could they have been contented with the private practice of their Worship, and the non-exaction of the penalties to which our Statutes make them liable, without leaping into all Offices of Trust and Command, and invading our Seats of Judicature, our Churches, and our Universities; their modesty might have wrought much upon the generosity and can∣dor of all sort of Protestants; but their audacious wresting all power into their hands, and their laying aside all those that have either any zeal for our Civil Rights, or for the Protestant Religion, is enough to kindle our further indignation, in stead of influencing us to thoughts of moderation and lenity. And should we once begin to cancel our Laws, according to the measure and proportion, that they break them and usurp upon them, no man can tell where that will terminate; and they will be sure to turn it into an encouragement to further attempts. For having, in compliance with their Impudence, and to absolve them from the guilt of their Crimes and Treasons, abrogated the Laws against Popery; they will not fail, in a little while, to betake themselves to the same Methods, for obtaining the abolition of all the Laws for Protestancy. 'Tis but for the King to declare, that he will have all his Subjects to be of his own Religion; and then by the Logick of the late Cant, which he used in his Speech to the Council at Windsor, That they who are not for him, are against him; we must immediately either turn Papists, or be put into the same List with them, and be thought worthy of the same Royal Displeasure, which they are become obnoxious unto, who cannot find it to be their duty and interest to destroy the Tests. And Mr. Pen's Argument of being afraid of His Majesties and the Papists power, and yet to provoke it, (Good Advice, p. 43.) will hold in the one case as well as in the other. Nor do I see but that the Court may improve another Topick of his against us (Ibid. p. 44.) viz. That we were ill Courtiers by setting him up, first to give him Roast-meat, and then to beat him with the Spit, by refusing to be of his Re∣ligion. To which I may add, that the brutal severities exercised towards Prote∣stants in France and Piedmont, are but ill inducements to prevail upon a Reformed Na∣tion to give Liberty to Papists. 'Tis an Axiom founded in the light of Nature, as well as an Oracle of Revelation, That with what measure any do mete unto others, it shall be measured to them again; and that whatsoever any would that we should do to them, they should do so to us. Would the Papists once perswade Catholick Rulers to give Indulgence to those of our Religion; it would be an argument that they acted sincere∣ly in their pleading against Penal Laws for matters of Religion; and would mighti∣ly prevail upon all of the Reformed Communion to Repeal such Statutes as are Enact∣ed against them. But while they continue and increase their Persecution against us in all places where they have power; I do not see how they can reasonably ex∣pect, that we should believe them either to be just or honest, or to deserve any measure of lenity. Reprizals are the onely methods, whereby to bring them to peaceable and equal Terms. Had Protestant Princes and States, given Papal So∣veraigns to understand, that they would act upon the same square that they do; and retaliate upon those of the Romish Faith, whatsoever should be inflicted be∣cause of Religion upon those of ours; I have ground to think that the Clergy in France

and Savoy, would have had more discretion, than to have been Instrumental in stirring up the late Persecutions, and of instigating Rulers to such unparallelled Bar∣barities. 'Tis not many years since a Prince in Germany begun to treat Protestants with an unjust severity, and to Banish them his Countrey, contrary to his word and the Stipulation he had made with them; but upon the Duke of Brandenburg's both threatning and beginning to do so by the Roman Catholicks in his Dutchy of Cleve, the other Prince immediately forbare his rigour, and the Protestants had fair Quar∣ter allowed them. And therefore if Mr. Pen and his Catholick Friends, in stead of reproaching the Church of England of justifying by her principle the King of France and the Inquisition, would prevail for abolishing the one, and for putting an end to Persecution by the other, they would thereby do more for inclining the Nations to Tolerate Papists, than either by all their invidious Satyrs against the conformable Clergy, or by their Panegyricks upon a Popish Monarch and the Romish Church. In the mean time, 'tis most unreasonable for them to demand or expect, and unwise as well as unseasonable, for British Protestants to consent to the Abrogation of the Tests, and the Repealing of the Penal Laws against Papists. Moreover, though 'tis possible that we might defend our selves against the dangers that might ensue up∣on it, had we a Prince of our own Religion on the Throne, yet it would be to sur∣render our selves unto their power, and to expose our selves to their Discretion, should we venture to do it while a Papist of His Majesties humour hath the weild∣ing of the Scepter. One of the main Arguments, by which Mr. Pen would per∣swade us against all apprehension of danger from the Papists, in case the Test and Penal Laws were abolished, is the inconsiderableness of their number in comparison of Protestants, (Good Advice, p. 49.) And yet if there be so many ill Men in the Nation, as he intimates (Letter 3d. p. 12.) who being of no Re∣ligion, are ready, upon the motives of worldly Interest, to take upon them the profession of any, were it not for fear of being at one time or another called to an account: I do not see but that as the Papists through having the King on their side, are already possessed of what he stiles the Artificial Strength of the Kingdom, why they may not, in a short while, were those Laws once destroyed, by which the Atheistical and profane sort of Men are kept in awe, come to ob∣tain too much of the natural strength of it, and raise their number to a nearer e∣quality to that of Protestants. And though they should never multiply to any near proportion, yet we may easily imagine, what a few hands may be able to do, when Authorized by a Popish Soveraign, and seconded by a well-disciplin'd Army commanded by Roman Catholicks, could they once get to have a share in the Legislation, and to be legally stated in all places of Trust and Power. What need we had of a legal security for our Religion, in case of a Papists coming to inherit the Crown, not onely the late King, who thorowly knew his Brothers tem∣per and bigottry, but those Loyal Zealots, who, with an unhappy vigour, opposed the Bill of Exclusion, were sensible of; and therefore besides all the security which we have for our Religion by the Statutes in force, they offered many other provisions for its protection, and several of them very threatning to the Monarchy, which we might have had established into Laws, if through our pursuit of the point of Exclusion, we had not been so improvident as to despise and reject them. He that dares attempt so much as he hath done, in opposition unto, and defiance of all our Laws; what will he not have the confidence to undertake, and be in a con∣dition to accomplish, if these obstructions were out of his way. The Penal Laws cannot prejudice the Papists in this King's Reign, seeing he can connive at the non∣execution of them; and the Repeal of them now, cannot benefit the Papists when he is gone, because if they do not behave themselves modestly, we can either re∣establish them, or enact others which they will be as little fond of. But their a∣brogation at this time, would infallibly prejudice us, and would prove to be the pulling up of the Sluces, and the throwing down the Dikes, which stem the de∣luge that is breaking in upon us, and which hinder the threatning waves from o∣verflowing us. And whereas Mr. Pen would obtrude upon weak and credulous Men, That if these Laws were Repealed, the King is willing to give us other for our secu∣rity, and that he would onely exchange the security, and not destroy it, (Letter 2d, p. 11.) he must pardon us, if we do not easily believe him, after what we know of his Majesties natural Genius, and Religious Bigottry, and after what we have seen and experienced in the whole course of his Government. And if there be no other way of giving the King an opportunity of Keeping his word with the Church of England, in preserving her, and maintaining our Religion, but the Repealing of the Penal and Tests Laws, as he intimates unto us (Good Adv. p. 50.) we have not found the Royal

Faith so sacred and inviolable in other instances, as to rob our selves of a Legal de∣fence and protection, for to depend upon the precarious one of a bare promise, which his Ghostly Fathers, whensoever they find it convenient, will tell him it was unlaw∣ful to make, and which he can have a Dispensation for the breaking of, at what time he pleaseth. Nor do we remember, that when he pledged his Faith unto us, in so many Promises, that the parting with our Laws was declared to be the con∣dition, upon which he made, and undertook to perform them. Neither can any have the confidence to alledge it, without having recourse to the Papal Doctrine of Mental Reservation. Which being one of the Principles of that Order, under whose conduct he is, makes us justly afraid to rely upon his word without further Secu∣rity. However, we do hereby see, with what little sincerity Mr. Pen Writes: and what small regard he hath to His Majesty's honour, when he tells the Church of England, That if She please and like the terms of giving up the Penal and Test Laws against Papists, that then the King will perform his word with her (Good Adv. p. 17.) but that otherways, it is She who breaks with him, and not he with her, (ib p. 44.)

Though something may be said, for the Repealing of all Penal Laws, in reference to every perswasion that is called Religion, how incongruously soever it may claim that Name; yet 'tis inconsistent with the safety of all Civil Government, and a plain betraying of the Civil Liberties, as well as the established Religion in Great Brittain, not to allow the precluding those from places of Trust, of whose fidelity we can have no assurance. And therefore as all that Mr. Pen hath alledged for abolish∣ing the Tests is miserably silly; so he hath thereby too manifestly detected the small regard he bears to the safety of the Kingdoms and the Protestant cause, not to be suspected in every thing else which he hath more plausibly and reasonably asserted. For as all Governments have an unquestionable Right to use means whereby to pre∣serve themselves; so 'tis not onely lawful, but expedient, that they should have Tests, by which it may be known, who are fit to be trusted with the Legislative and Execu∣tive power. Without this no Constitution can subsist, nor Subjects be in any secu∣rity under it. Neither can any Reasons be advanced against the Test Laws, but what are of equal force against exacting Oaths of Allegiance, and Promises of Fidelity from those, whom the Government thinks meet to Employ. One might think, that Mr. Pen should allow as much to the Parliament of England, as he challengeth to him∣self in his Government of Pensilvania. For I find, that not onely such shall be pre∣cluded from a share in the Government there, who shall either be convicted of ill Fame and unsober Coversation, or who shall not acknowledge Jesus Christ to be the Son of God, and Saviour of the World, (Chap. 2d. of their Constitutions and Laws) but that none shall be either chosen into Office, or so much as admitted to choose, but who solemnly declare and promise Fidelity to William Pen and his Heirs: (Chap. 57.) This I take not onely to be equivalent unto, but something more than our Tests do amount unto. For where∣as there may be several whom the Quakers may judge persons of unsober Conversation; who may be true to the Civil Interest of their Country, and willing, to the utmost of their power, to preserve the Peace, and promote the Prosperity of it; we have no ground to believe the like of Papists, in relation to the welfare and safety of a Prote∣stant State. And that not onely because they acknowledge a Forraign Jurisdiction inconsistent with, and paramount to ours; but because they are obliged by the Prin∣ciples of their Religion, whensoever they find themselves able, to destroy and extir∣pate us. I'm sure that the Motives which in 73, and 78 enforced to the Enacting of the Test Laws, do at this season plead more effectually for the continuing them. Nor had we so much cause then of being afraid of Popery, or to be apprehensive of ha∣ving our Religion overturned by Papists, which were the Inducements to the making of those Laws, as we have ground to dread it at this time, and to be jealous of it under the present conjuncture. And the more that the Roman Catholicks, and their Advocates press to have these Laws abolished, the more fear they excite in us of their design if they knew how to effect it, and make us the more resolved to hazard all we have to maintain them. For as no Papist is prejudiced by them in his person or property; so they are the most innocent and moderate security we can have for the preservation of our selves and of our Religion. Nor could any thing justifie the Wisdom of the Nation in being without them so long, but that we were not till then suspicious of the Religion of the Regnant Prince, nor apprehensive before of the misfortune of ha∣ving a Popish Successor. And whereas Mr. Pen tells us, that it were ridiculous to talk of giving liberty of Conscience, and at the same time imagine that the Tests ought to be continued: (Good Adv. p. 59.) We may not onely reply, that Liberty of Conscience has no Rela∣tion to Mens being admitted unto Civil Trusts, but that the same is practised in seve∣ral States and Governments both Popish and Protestant, and in Pensilvania it self, where

I suppose Liberty of Conscience is allowed. For as we find freedom vouchsafed to Men in matters of Religion, both in Holland, and in diverse Protestant States in Ger∣many, without their being capable of Claiming a share in the Magistracy; so though the Protestant Religion be tolerated in Collen, yet it is with a preclusion of all of that Religion from Authority. Whatsoever else Mr. Pen says upon this head, is so despica∣bly weak, that as I neither judge it worthy to be taken notice of, nor have Room to do it; so I am confident, that be his Religion what it will, which by reason of his late Pa∣pers I have more Reason to suspect than ever, he writes as much against his conscience and Judgment, as against the Pattern and Example which he hath set us in Pensilvania.

I confess, the Dissenters are under more temptations, than other Protestants, to wish for, and to endeavour the Abrogation of the Penal Laws. And as this makes them to be the more particularly applied unto by the Court for the promoting of it; so it renders them the more liable to be influenced by Discourses of the nature and complexion that Mr. Pen's are of. But I hope they will consider, that the preservation of the Protestant Religion to themselves, their posterity, and the Kingdom; is more valuable than a little temporal ease, and which they onely hold by the precarious te∣nure of the King's word. Surely they cannot be so infatuated, as to think that the Pa∣pists love them, or that they will trust them any longer, than they have occasion to use them. I would think, that it should both make them blush to find themselves coupled with Roman Catholicks in Courts and Employments, while their fellow Protestants are shut out, and make them jealous, that they are onely made use of for some mischie∣vous and sinistrous end. They can never hope to lay such a merit upon the Court, as the Church of England hath done; and her reward may forewarn them what they are to expect, when they have done the job that is allotted for them. His Majesties sin∣cerity in giving liberty to Dissenting Protestants, may be easily guessed at, by his order∣ing 26 poor Scots Dissenters to be sent to the Barbadoes for slaves; and this both since the Emitting of his First Proclamation for a Toleration, and without the having any thing objected to them, but what concerned their Consciences in matters of Religion. The Terms upon which Phanaticks are to enjoy his Majesties favour, and how long they are to expect the continuance of that mighty Grace, we have declared by him∣self, as they stand recorded in my Lord Melfort's Letter to the Presbyterian Ministers in Scotland. Namely, That he intends to continue their Liberty, if he have suitable encou∣ragement and concurrence from them in their Doctrine and Practice, and if they concur with him in removing of the Penal Laws. This is the Task that they are indulged and pre∣ferred for, and 'tis a wonder that they do not foresee that their destiny will be one and the same, in case they have once done it, as if they do it not. This is the Fountain of all his Majesties friendship to them; and the glorious assertion of its having been always his Principle, that Conscience ought not to be constrained, and that none ought to be persecuted for meer matters of Religion, is at last dwindled into this, that he will give them Liberty so long as they will concurr and cooperate with him in his introdu∣cing of Popery, and till they have destroyed the Laws by which our own Religion is fenced about and defended. Certainly it is high time to consider, what this is which is exacted of them, and what hazard they not onely expose the Nation and the Gospel unto, but what guilt they derive upon themselves if they undertake and pursue it. Nor can they promote the Repealing of the Penal Laws against Papists, and the Test Statutes; without running themselves under the guilt of Perjury, and the making themselves chargeable before God, with all the blood that was shed in the War between King Charles I. and the Parliament. For as one of the Articles of the Solemn League and Covenant was, to endeavour to extirpate Popery; so the countenance and incouragement which that Prince gave to Papists, was a main ingredient in the State of the Quarrel for which they drew their Swords against him, and in the assertion whereof so many thousands lost their lives. Can they now be willing to act in direct opposition to that Covenant, which rather than renounce and disclaim the obligatory force of, many of them have suffered so much? or would they have the guilt of all the blood lye upon them, which was shed in the former long and fatal War? I'm perswaded that many, who are most forward, to pur∣sue the Abrogation of the Tests and Penal Laws against Papists, never gave them∣selves leave to think what they are hurried unto. Mr. Pen tells them, he will beg them for Fools if they do it not, (Good Advice, p. 54.) and I dare take upon me to say, that they are most Execrable Knaves and Villains, if they do it. Is it possible they should be so deprived of all understanding, as not to per∣ceive themselves meerly trick't upon, and made use of for Tools to promote a Design which others have the wisdom and integrity not to be instrumental in; when Jeffreys, who a while ago, said on the Bench, Shew me a Fanatick, and I will shew you a Knave, and that 'twas impossible to be a Fanatick, and not to be a Rebel; should now

caress them as his Majesties best and most Loyal Subjects, and tell them, upon their being advanced to Offices, That he is glad to find honest men come to be employed, which was the Complement he lately bestowed upon Sir John Shorter. 'Tis likely they may be told, that if they will fall in with the Papists for destroying the Church of England, that they shall be secured from the Resentments of the next Heir, by having the Mo∣narchy made dissolvable into a Republick upon his Majesties death. And this would seem to be what Mr. Pen intends, when he tells us, that such a Bargain will be driven with the Kingdom, as will make the Church of England think, that half a Loaf had been better, than no Bread; (Good Adv. p. 43.) and that one year will shew the Trick, and mightily deceive her, and the opportunity of her being preserved lost, and another Bargain dri∣ven mightily to her disadvantage, (Ibid. p. 42.) But as it will be impossible for Pa∣pists and Dissenters, should they conspire together, to be able to effect it, considering the interest which her integrity in the Protestant Religion, and her tenderness for the Rights and Liberties of the Kingdoms, have justly acquired unto her; so it were both the most foolish, as well as criminal thing, which any, pretending themselves Prote∣stants, can be guilty of, to be in any measure accessory unto it. For as there is nothing in reference to their own Religious Liberties, and the Priviledges of the Nation, which they may not undoubtedly expect, from her Justice as well as from her Mercy and Moderation; so there is no means left within our view, either to give a lasting Peace and a firm settlement to Three distracted Kingdoms, or to bring the Protestant Interest into such a condition, as may ballance the Papal grandure in Europe, and give check to the rage of Persecution in all places, but her happy advancement to the Thrones of Great Brittain and Ireland, when it shall please God to remove his Ma∣jesty. Until which time, I hope all who call themselves Protestants, will submit to the worst of fate, rather than to fall under the Curse of this Age, and Ignominy, with all that shall come after, for becoming an United Party with the Church of Rome, in any of her Designs, how plausible soever they may appear.