A
LETTER
Written
to
my
LORD
RUSSEL
IN
NEWGATE
,
The
Twentieth
of
July
,
1683.
MY
LORD
,
I
Was
heartily
glad
to
see
your
Lordship
this
Morning
in
that
calm
and
devout
temper
at
the
Receiving
of
the
Blessed
Sacrament
;
but
Peace
of
minde
unless
it
be
well-grounded
will
avail
little
:
And
because
transient
Discourse
many
times
hath
little
effect
for
want
of
time
to
weigh
and
consider
it
,
therefore
in
tender
compassion
of
your
Lordships
Case
,
and
from
all
the
good
will
that
one
man
can
bear
to
another
,
I
do
humbly
offer
to
your
Lordships
deliberate
thoughts
these
following
Considerations
concerning
the
points
of
Resistance
.
If
our
Religion
and
Rights
should
be
invaded
,
as
your
Lordship
puts
the
Case
,
concerning
which
I
understand
by
Dr.
B.
that
your
Lordiship
had
once
received
Satisfaction
,
and
am
sorry
to
find
a
change
.
First
,
That
the
Christian
Religion
doth
plainly
forbid
the
Resistance
of
Authority
.
Secondly
,
That
though
our
Religion
be
Established
by
Law
,
(
which
your
Lordship
urges
as
a
difference
between
our
Case
,
and
that
of
the
Primitive
Christians
)
yet
in
the
same
Law
which
Establishes
our
Religion
it
is
declared
,
That
it
is
not
Lawful
upon
any
pretence
whatsoever
to
take
up
Arms
,
&
c.
Besides
that
,
there
is
a
particular
Law
declaring
the
power
of
the
Militia
to
be
solely
in
the
King
.
And
that
ties
the
hands
of
Subjects
,
though
the
Law
of
Nature
and
the
General
Rules
of
Scripture
had
left
us
at
liberty
;
which
I
believe
they
do
not
,
because
the
Government
and
Peace
of
Humane
Society
could
not
well
subsist
upon
these
Terms
.
Thirdly
,
Your
Lordships
opinion
is
contrary
to
the
declared
Doctrine
of
all
Protestant
Churches
;
and
though
some
particular
Persons
have
taught
otherwise
,
yet
they
have
been
contradicted
herein
and
condemned
for
it
by
the
Generality
of
Protestants
.
And
I
beg
your
Lordship
to
consider
how
it
will
agree
with
an
avowed
asserting
of
the
Protestant
Religion
,
to
go
contrary
to
the
General
Doctrine
of
Protestants
.
My
end
in
this
is
to
convince
your
Lordship
that
you
are
in
a
very
Great
and
Dangerous
Mistake
,
and
being
so
convinced
,
that
which
before
was
a
Sin
of
Ignorance
,
will
appear
of
much
more
heynous
Nature
,
as
in
Truth
it
is
,
and
call
for
a
very
particular
and
deep
Repentance
;
which
if
your
Lordship
sincerely
exercise
upon
the
sight
of
your
Error
,
by
a
Penitent
Acknowledgment
of
it
to
God
and
Men
,
you
will
not
only
obtain
Forgiveness
of
God
,
but
prevent
a
mighty
Scandal
to
the
Reformed
Religion
.
I
am
very
loath
to
give
your
Lordship
any
disquiet
in
the
Distress
you
are
in
,
which
I
commiserate
from
my
heart
,
but
am
much
more
concerned
,
that
you
do
not
leave
the
World
in
a
Delusion
and
false
Peace
,
to
the
hinderance
ot
your
Eternal
Happiness
.
I
heartily
Pray
for
you
,
and
beseech
your
Lordship
to
believe
that
I
am
with
the
greatest
Sincerity
and
Compassion
in
the
World
,
My
Lord
,
Your
Lordships
most
Faithful
and
Afflicted
Servant
,
J.
Tillotson
.