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But however, to give strength and colour this sus∣pition, he says, p. 10. That some Bishops and others, pre∣ferred under King Charles the Second, did attempt this.
To which we Answer;
[ 1] What he calls Division, was only a Comprehension design'd by those, whose Judgment as well as Moderation, we have lately had just cause to admire. Such a Divi∣sion we have in the Church at present, and ever shall
have, so long as there be moderate and judicious men in it; and had that Comprehension been established, it would have prov'd our security at this very day.
[ 2] Call it a Division, yet they did only attempt, but could not effect it; and indeed it is so hard to sway a Constitution, that not only the Nature of the thing, but this Fruitless undertaking too, may justly allay his fears of admitting a few moderate Men into the Church by some reasonable Alterations.
[ 3] In p. 3, 4. he passionately pleads against all Alterati∣ons, from the unlikelyhood of gaining one Dissenter, who are so stubborn and unreasonable in the terms they propose for an Accommodation; and yet here he is a∣fraid of such a number coming in, as shall divide and ruin the whole Church; which speaks the Author to pur∣sue an Hypothesis, but not the Truth; and resolv'd by all manner of Pleas agreeing and disagreeing, probable and improbable, true and false, or by any thing else you can imagine, to confound and obstruct intended Condescensions.
[ 4] It seems very marvellous, that these very surmises set on foot by Popish Polititians, purposely to hinder our Union at the restoring our Liturgy, and the later project of Comprehension, should not only be received by some hot men then, but be pleaded at this time of the day; when we have seen the dismal effects of these Policies which have used the Church against Dissenters, and then Dissenters against the Church, in order to the ruin of the whole Protestant interest, and which at this day do give the greatest advantage to French and Popish designs throughout the World. This seems to bode us no good, and looks like a fate upon Men, which makes them not their own Murderers only, but the common Executioners of Protestants and their Religion.