I. PEace is a very desirable thing , yet every state that is peaceable is not blindly to be courted : An Apoplexy is the most peaceable state into which a man's Body can be laid , yet few would desire to pacifie the humours of the Body at that rate ; an Implicit Faith , and Absolute Slavery are the two peaceablest things that can be , yet we confess we have no mind to try so Dangerous an Experiment ; and while the Remedies are too strong , we will chuse rather to bear our Disease than to venture on them . The instance that is proposed to the Imitation of the Nation is that Parliament which called in the late King , & yet that cannot so much as be called a Parliament , unless it be upon a Common-wealth Principle , That the Sovereign Power is radically in the People , for its being Chosen without the King's Writ , was such an Essential Nullity , that no subsequent Ratification could take it away : For all People saw that they could not depend upon any Acts passed by it , and therefore it was quickly Dissolved : and ever since it has been called by all the Monarchical Party a Convention , and not a Parliament . But now in order to the courting the Common-wealth Party , this is not only called a Parliament , but is proposed as a Pattern to all others , from the beginning to pag . 19.

II . But since this Author will send us back to that time , and since he takes so ill , That the Memory of the late King should be forgotten ; let us examine that Transaction a little , and then we shall see whither it had not been more for his Honour to let it be forgotten . The King did indeed in his Declaration from Breda , promise Liberty of Conscience , on which he insisted in a large and wise Declaration , set out after he was settled on the Throne : But after that he had got a Parliament chosen all of Creatures depending on himself , who for many years Granted him every thing that he desired , a severe Act of Uniformity was passed ; and the King's Promise was carried off by this ; That the King could not refuse to comply with so Loyal a Parliament . It is well enough known , that those who were then secretly Papists , and who diguised their Religion for many years after this , as the King himself did to the last , animated the Chief-men of our Church , to carry the points of Uniformity as high as was possible , and that both then , and ever since , all that proposed any Expedients for uniting us ( as as it was afterwards termed , for Comprehending the Dissenters ) were represented as the Betrayers of the Church . The Design was then clear to some ; that so by carrying the Terms of Conformity to a great rigidity , there might be many Non-Conformists , and great occasion given for a Toleration , under which Popery might insensibly creep in : For if the Expedients that the King himself proposed in his Declaration , had been stood to , it is well known , that of the 2000. Conscientious Ministers , as he calls them pag . 14. by an Affectation too gross to pass on them , that were turned out , above 1700 had staid in . Their Practices had but too good Success on those who were then at the Head of our Church : whose Spirits were too much soured by their ill usage during the War , and whose Principles led them to so good an opinion of all that the Court did , that for a great while they would suspect nothing . But at the same time that the Church Party , that carried all before them in that Parliament , were animated to press things so hard , the Dissenters were secretly encouraged to stand out : and were told , That the Kings Temper and Principle , and the consideration of Trade would certainly procure them a Toleration : and ever since , that Party , that thus had set us together by the Ears , has shifted sides dextrously enough ; but still they have carried on the main Design , which was to keep up the Quarrel in the Intervals of Parliament , Liberty of Conscience was in vogue : but when a Session of Parliament came , and the King wanted Money , then a new severe Law against the Dissenters , was offered to the angry men of the Church-party as the price of it ; and this seldom failed to have its effect ; so that they were like the Jewels of the Crown , pawned when the King needed Money , but redeemed at the next Prorogation . A Reflection then that arises naturally out of the proceedings in the year 1660 , is , That if a Parliament should come , that would copy after that pattern , and repeal Laws and Tests ; The Kings Offers of Liberty of Conscience , as may indeed be supposed , will bind him till after a short Session or two such a meritorious Parliament should be dissolved , according to the precedent in the year 1660. and that a new one were brought together by the same Methods of changing Charters , and making Returns ; and then the Old Laws de Heretico Comburendo might be again revived , and it would be said , that the Kings Inclinations are for keeping his Promise , and Granting still a Liberty of Conscience , yet he can deny nothing to a Loyal and Catholick Parliament .

III . We pay all possible respect to the King ; and have witnessed how much we depended on his promises , in so signal a manner , that after such real Evidence all words are superfluous . But since the King has shewed so much zeal , not only for his Religion in general , but in particular for that Society , which of all the other Bodies in it , we know is animated the most against us , we must crave leave to speak a little freely , as not suffer our selves to be destroyed by a Complement . The Extirpation of Hereticks , and the Breach of Faith to them , have been Decreed by two of their General Councils , and by a Tradition of several Ages ; the Pope is possessed of a power of dissolving all Promises , Contracts and Oaths ; not to mention the private Doctrines , of that Society , that is so much in favour , of doing Ill , that Good may come of it , of using Equivocations , and Reservations , and of ordering the Intention . Now these Opinions as they have never been renounced by the Body of that Church , so indeed they cannot be , unless they renounce their Infallibility , which is their Basis , at the same time . Therefore though a Prince of that Communion , may very sincerely resolve to maintain Liberty of Conscience , and to keep his word , yet the blind Subjection into which he is brought by his Religion , to his Church , must force him to break through all that , as soon as the Doctrine of his Church is opened to him ; and that Absolution is denied him , or higher Threatnings are made him ; if he continues firm to his merciful Inclinations . So that , supposing His Majesties Piety to be as great as the Jesuits Sermon , on the 30. of January , lately printed , carries it , to the uttermost possibility of Flesh and Blood , then our Fears must still grow upon us , who know what are the Decrees of that Church ; and by consequence we may infer to what his Piety must needs carry him , as soon as those things are fully opened to him , which in respect to him , we are bound to believe are now hid from him .

IV . It will further appear , that these are not injust inferences : If we consider a little what has been the Observation of all the Promises made for Liberty of Conscience to Hereticks by Roman Catholick Princes , ever since the Reformation . The first was , the Edict of Passaw in Germany , procured chiefly by Ferdinand's means , and maintained indeed Religiously by his Son Maximilian the Second , whose Inclinations to the Protestant Religion made him be suspected for one himself : but the Jesuits insinuated themselves so far into his Younger Brothers Court that was Archduke of Grats , that this was not only broken by that Family , in their Share , but though Rodolph and Mathias were Princes of great Gentleness , and the latter of these , was the Protector of the States , in the beginning of their War with K. Philip the Second ; yet the violence with which the House of Grats was possessed , overturned all that : So that the breaking off the Pacificatory Edicts was begun in Rodolph's time , and was so far carried on in Matbias's time , that they set both Bohemia and Hungary in a Flame , and so begun that long War of Germany . 2. The next Promise for Liberty of Conscience was made by Queen Mary of England , but we know well enough how 〈◇〉 was observed : The Promises made by the Queen Regent of Scotland , were observed with the same Fidelity . after these came the Patificatory Edicts in France , which were scarce made when the Triumvirat was formed to break them . The famous Massacre of Paris was an instance never to be forgot of the Religious Observance of a Treaty , made on purpose to lay the Party asleep , and to bring the whole Heads of it into the Net : This was a much more dreadful St. Bartholomew , than that on which our Author bestows that Epithete , pag . 15. and when all seemed settled by the famous Edict of Nantes , we have seen how restless that Party , and in particular the Society , were , till it was broken ; by a Prince , that for thirty years together had shewed as great an aversion to the Shedding of Blood , in his Government at home , as any of his Neighbours can pretend to : and who has done nothing in the whole Tragedy that he has acted , but what is exactly conform to the Doctrine and Decrees of his Church : So that it is not himself , but his Religion that we must blame for all that has fallen out in that Kingdom . I cannot leave this without taking notice of our Authors Sincerity , who pag . 18. tells us of the Protestants entring into their League in France , when it is well known that it was a League of Papists against a Protestant Successor , which was afterwards applied to a Popish King , only because he was not Zealous enough against Hereticks . But to end this List of Instances at a Countrey to which our Author bears so particular a kindness ; when the Dutchess of Parma granted the Edict of Pacification , by which all that was past , was buried ; and the Exercise of the Protestant Religion was to be connived at for the future , King Philip the Second did not only ratify this , but expressed himself so fully upon it to the Count of Egmont , who had been sent over to him , that the easie Count returned to Flanders , so assured of the King's Sincerity , that he endeavoured to perswade all others to rely as much on his word , as he himself did . It is well known how fatal this Confidence was to him : and ( see Meteren lib . 3. ) that two years after this that King sent over the Duke of Alva , with that severe Commission which has been often Printed : in which , without any regard had to the former Pacification or Promises , the King declared , That the Provinces had forfeited all their Liberties , and that every man in it had forfeited his Life : And therefore he athorised that unmerciful man to proceed with all possible rigor against them : It is also remarkable , that that bloody Commission is founded on the King's Absolute Power , and his Zeal for Religion . This is the only Edict that I know , in which a King has pretended to Absolute Power , before the two Declarations for Scotland in the year 1687. so whether they who penned them , took their pattern from this , I cannot determine it . I could carry this view of History much further , to shew in many more Instances , how little Protestants can depend on the Faith of Roman Catholicks , and that their condition is so much the worse , the more pious that their Princes are . As for what may be objected to all this , from the present State of some Principalities or Towns in Germany , or of the Switsers and Grisons : it is to be considered , that in some of these , want of Power in the Roman Catholicks to do mischief , and the other Circumstances of their affairs , are visibly the only Securities of the Protestants : and whensoever this Nation departs from that , and gives up the Laws , it is no hard thing to guess , how short-lived the Liberty of Conscience , even though setled into a Magna Charia would be .

V. All that our Author says upon the General Subject of Liberty of Conscience , is only a severe Libel upon that Church , whose principles and practices are so contrary to it . But the proposition lately made , has put an end to all his despute ; since by an Offer of Repealing the Penal Laws , reserving only those of the Test , and such others as secure the Protestant Religion ; the question is now no more , which Religion must be tolerated , but which Religion must Reign and prevail . All that is here offered in opposition to that , is that by this means such a number of persons must be ruined , page 64. which is as severe a way of foreing people to change their Religion , as the way of Dragoons . I will not examine the particulars of this matter , but must express my joy to find , that all the difficulty which is in our way to a happy quiet , is the supplying such a number of men with the means of their subsistence , which by the execution of the Law for the Test , must be taken from them : This by all that I can learn , will not come to near an hundred thousand pound a year : and indeed the supplying of those of the King's Religion , that want it , is a piece of Charity and Bounty so worthy of him , that I do not know a man , that would envy them the double of this , in Pensions : And if such a sum would a little Charge the King's Revenue , I dare say , when the settlement of the Nation is brought to that single point , there would not be one Negative found in either House of Parliament for the Reimbursing the King . So far are we from desiring , either the Destruction or even the Poverty of those that perhaps wait only for an occasion to Burn us . I will add one bold thing further , That though I will be no Undertaker for what a Parliament may do , yet I am Confident that all men are so far from any desire of Revenge ; but most of all , that the Heroical minds of the next Successors are above it , That if an Indemnity for that bold violation of the Law , that hath been of late both Practised and Authorised amongst us , would procure a full settlement , even this could be obtained : Though an impunity after such Transgressions is perhaps too great an Encouragement to offend for the future . But since it is the Preservation of the Nation , and not the Ruine of any Party in it that is aimed at , the hardiness of this Proposition will , I hope , be forgiven me . It is urged ( pag . 63. ) That according to the Dutch Pattern at least , the Roman Catholicks may have a share in Military Employments ; but the difference between our Case and theirs , is clear , since some Roman Catholick Officers , where the Government is wholly in the hands of the Protestants , cannot be of such dangerous consequence , as it must needs be under a King that is not only of that perswasion , but is become nearly allied to the Society , as the Liege Letter tells us .

VI . It is true our Author would persuade that the Kings Dispensing Power hath already put an end to this Dispute , and that therefore it is a seeming sort of Perjury ( see p. 48. ) to keep the Justices of Peace still under an Oath of executing those Laws which they must consider no more . Some Precedents are brought from former times ( p. 22. 23. 24. ) of our King's using the Dispensing Power in Edw . 3. Rich . 2d . Henry 7th . Hen . 8. Edw . 6th . and Queen Elizabeth's time . It is very true that the Laws have been of late broke through amongst us , with a very high hand : but it is a little too dangerous to upbraid the Justices of Peace with their Oaths lest this oblige them to reflect on so sacred an Engagement . For the worthy Members of Magd . Coll . are not the only Persons in England who will make Conscience of observing their Oaths : So that if others are brought to reflect too much upon what they do , the Authors Officiousness in suggesting this to them may prove to be no acceptable piece of Service . I will not examine all his Precedents , we are to be Govern'd by Law , and not by some of the Excesses of Government ; Nor is the latter end of Edw . 3d : a Time to be much imitated , and of all the parts of the English History , Richard the Seconds Reign should be least mentioned , since those Excesses of his produced so Tragical a Conclusion , as the loss of his Crown and Life . Henry the Sixth's feeble and embroyled Reign will scarce support an Argument . And if there were some excesses in Henry the Eighth's time , which is ordinary in all great Revolutions , he got all these to be either warranted , or afterwards to be confirmed in Parliament . And Queen Elizabeth's power in Ecclesiastical Matters was founded on a special Act of Parliament , which was in a great measure repealed in 1641. and that Repeal was again ratifyed by another Act in the late Kings time . We are often told of the late Kings Acts concerning Carts and Waggons , but all Lawyers know some Laws are understood to be Abrogated without a special Rapeal , when some visible inconvenience inforces it , such as appeared in that mistaken Act concerning Waggons . So the King in that Case only declared the inconvenience which made that Law to be of it self Null , because it was impracticable . It is true the Parliament never question'd this ; A man would not be offended if another pulled up a flower in his Garden , that yet would take it ill if he broke his Hedge . And in Holland , to which our Author's pen leads him often , when a River changes its course , any man may break the Dyke that was made to resist , yet that will be no warrant to go and break the Dyke that resists the Current of the same River . So if a Dispensing Power well applyed to smaller Offences has been past over an Excess of Government , that might be Excusable tho not Justifiable , This will by no means prove that Laws made to Secure us against that which we esteem the greatest of Evils , may be Suspended because Twelve Men in Scarlet have been tried or practised on to say so . The Power of Pardoning is also unreasonably urged for Justifying the Dispensing Power , the one is a Grace to a particular person for a Crime committed , and the other is a Warrant to commit Crimes . In short , the one is a Power to Save Men , the other is a power to Destroy the Government . But though they swagger it now with a Dispensing power , yet Rede Caper Vitem , &c. may come to be again in Season , and a time may come in which the whole party may have reason to wish that some hairbrain'd Jesuits had never been born , who will not only expose them to the Resentments , but even to the Justice of another Season , in which as little Regard will be had to the Dispensing-power , as they have to the Laws at present .

VII . Our Authors kindness to the States of Holland is very particular , and returns often upon him , and it is no wonder that a State settled upon two such hinges as the Protestant Religion , and the publick Liberty , should be no small Eye sore to those who it tend to destroy both . So that the flackning the Laws concerning Religion , and the moderating that State by-invading it , seem to be terms that must always go together . In the first War began the first flackning of them ; and after the Triple Alliance had laid the Dutch asleep , when the second War was resolved on , it was begun with that Heroical Attempt on the Smyrna Fleet ( for our Author will not have the late Kings Actions to be forgotten ) at the same time the famous Declaration for Suspending the Laws in 1672. came out . And now again with another Declaration to the same purpose , we see a return of the same good inclinations for the Dutch , tho' none before our Author has ever ventur'd as in a Book licensed by my Lord president of the Council , to call their Constitution ( pag . 68. ) a Revolt that they made from their Lawful Prince ; and to raise his Style to a more sublime strain , he says ( pag . 66. ) that their Common-Wealth is nothing else but the result of an Absolute Rebellion , Revolt , and Defection from their Prince , and that the Laws that they have made , were to prevent any casual return to their natural Allegiance ; and speaking of their obligation to protect a Naturalized Subject , he bestows this honour on them as to say ( pag . 57. 58. ) Those that never yet dealt so fairly with Princes , may be suspected for such a superfluous Faith , to one that puts himself upon them for a Vassal . Time will shew how far the States will resent these Injuries , only it seems our Author thinks that a Sovereigns Faith to protect the Subject is a superfluous thing . A Faith to Hereticks is another superfluous thing . So that two Superfluities one upon another must be all that we are like to trust to . But I must take Notice of the variety of methods that these Gent . use in their Writings here in England , we are alwaies upbraided with a Revolt of the Dutch , as a Scandalous imputation on the Protestant Religion ; and yet in a late paper intituled An Answer to Pentioner Fagel's Letter , the Services that the R. Catholicks did in the beginning of the Common-Wealth , are highly Extolled as Signal and Meritorious , upon which the Writer makes great Complaints that the pacification of Gaunt , and the Union of Utrecht , by which the free Exercise of Religion was to be continued to them , was not observed in most of the provinces : But if he had but taken pains to examine the History of the States , he would have found that soon after the Union made with Utrecht , the Treaty of Collen was set on foot between the King of Spain and the States , by the Emperour's Mediation , in which the Spaniards studied to divide the Roman Catholicks in those provinces from the Protestants , by offering a Confirmation of all the other priviledges of these Provinces , excepting only the point of Religion : which had so great an effect , That the party of the Male-contents was formed upon it , and these did quickly Capitulate in the Walloon provinces , and after that not only Brabant & Flanders Capitulated , but Reenenburg that was Governor of Groening declared for the King of Spain , and by some places that he took both in Friesland and Over-Issel , he put those provinces under Contribution . Not long after that , both Daventer and Zutphen were betrayed by Popish Governours , and the War was thus brought within the Seven provinces , that had been before kept at a greater distance from them . Thus it did appear almost every where that the Hatred with which the Priests were inspiring the Roman Catholicks against the Protestants , disposed them to betray all again to the Spanish Tyranny . The New War that Reenenburgh's Treachery had brought into these Provinces chang'd so the State of Affairs , that no wonder if this produced a Change likewise with relation to the Religion , since it appeared that these Revolts were carried on and justified upon the principle of the Church : and the general Hatred under which these Revolts brought the Roman Catholicks in those Out-provinces , made the greater part of them to withdraw , so that there were not left such numbers of them as to pretend to the Free-Exercise of their Religion : But the War not having got into Holland and Utrecht , and none of that Religion having Revolted in these provinces , Roman Catholicks continued still in the Countrey , and tho the ill inclinations that they shewed , made it necessary for publick Safety to put them out of the Government , yet they have still enjoyed the common Rights of the Country , with the free Exercise of their Religion . But it is plain that some men are only waiting an Opportunity to renew the Old Delenda est Carthago : and that they think it to be no small step to it to possess all the World with the odious impressions of the Dutch , as a Rebellious and a Perfidious State , and if it were possible they would make their own Roman Catholick Subjects fancy that they are persecuted by them . But tho' men may be brought to believe Transbustantiation in spight of the Evidence of Sence to the contrary ; Yet those that feed themselves at Ease , will hardly be brought to think that they are persecuted because that they are told so in an ill-writ Pamphlet . And for their Rebellion , the Prince that is only concerned in that , finds them now to be his best Allies and chief support : As his predecessors acknowledged them a Free-State almost an Age ago . And it being Confest by Historians on all sides That there was an express Proviso in the Constitution of their Government ; That if their Prince broke such and such Limit , they were no more bound to Obey him , but might Resist him : And it being no less certain , That King Philip the Second Authorized the Duke of Alva to seize upon all their Priviledges ; their resisting him and maintaining their Priviledges , was without all dispute a justifiable Action , and was so esteemed by all the States of Europe , and in particular here in England , as appears by the preambles of several Acts of Subsidy that were given to the Queen in order to the Assisting the States . And as for their not dealing fairly with Princes , when our Author can find such an instance in their History , as our Attempt on their Smyrna-Fleet was , he may employ his Eloquence in setting it out ; and if notwithstanding all the failures they have felt from others , they have still maintained the Publick-Faith , our Author's Rhetorick will hardly blemish them . The peace of Nimeguen , and the abandoning of Luxemburgh , are perhaps the single instances in their History that need to be a little excused : But as the vast Expence of the last War brought them into a Necessity that either knows no Law , or at least will hearken to none , so we who forced them to both , and first sold the Triple Alliance , and then let go Luxemburgh , do with very ill grace reproach the Dutch for these unhappy steps , to which our Conduct drove them .

VIII . If a strain of pert boldness runs through the whole Pamphlet , it appears no where more eminently then in the Reflections the Author makes on Mr. Fagels Letter , he calls it ( pag . 62. ) a pretended piece , and a presumption not to be soon pardoned , in prefixing to a surreptitious and unauthorized Pamphlet , the reverend Name of the Princess of Orange , which in another place ( p. 72. ) he had reason to imagine was but a counterfeit Coyn , and that those Venerable Characters were but politically feigned , and a sacred Title given to it , without their Authority . All this coming out with so solemn a Licence , has made me take some pains to be rightly informed in this matter . Those whom I consulted tell me they have discoursed the Pentioner himself on this subject , who will very shortly take a sure method to clear himself of those imputations , and to do that Right to the Prince and Princess , as to shew the World , That in this matter he acted only by their Order . For as Mr. Stewards Letter drew the Pentioners Answer from him , so this Paper ( Licensed as it is ) will now draw from him a particular recital of the whole progress of the matter . Mr. Albeville knows that the Princess explained her self so fully to him in the Month of May , and June , 1687. upon the Repeal of the Test , That he himself has Acknowledged to several persons , That tho both the Prince and Princess were very stiff in that matter , yet of the two he found the Princess more inflexible . Afterwards when Mr. Steward by many repeated Letters pressed his Friend to renew his importunities to the Pentioner for an Answer , he having also said in his Letters that he writ by the Kings Order and Direction : Upon this the Pensioner having Consulted the Prince and Princess , drew his Letter first in Dutch , and communicated it to them , and it being approved by them , he turned it into Latin ; but because it was to be shewed to the King , he thought it was fit to get it put into English , that so their Highnesses might see the Translation of that Letter which was to be offered to His Majesty , and they having approved of it , sent it with his own in Latin , and it was delivered to the King . This Account was given me by my Friend , who added That it would appear ere long in a more Authentical manner . And by this I suppose the impudence of those men does sufficiently appear , who have the Brow to publish such stuff , of the Falshood of which they themselves are well assured , and therefore I may well conclude that my Lord Presidents License was granted by him with that Carelesness with which most Books are Read and Licensed . Our Author pretends that he cannot believe that this Letter could flow from a Princess of so sweet a temper ( pag . 62. ) and yet others find so much of the sweetness of her temper in it , that for that very reason they believe it the more easily to have come from her : No passion nor indiscreet Zeal appears in it , and it expresses such an extended Charity and Nobleness of Temper , that those Characters shew it comes from one that has neither a narrowness of Soul , nor a sowrness of Spirit . In short , she proposes nothing in it but to preserve that Religion she believes the true one , and that being secured , she is willing that all others Enjoy all the Liberties of Subjects , and the Freedom of Christians : Here is sweetness of Temper and Christian Charity in their fullest Extent . The other Reason is so mysteriously expressed , that I will not wrong our Author by putting it in any other words but his own ( pag . 62. ) She is certainly as little pleased to promote any thing to the Disturbance of a State to which she still seems so nearly related . [ She seems still ] are two significant words , and not set here for nothing : She seems ( in his Opinion ) only related to the Crown , that is , she is not really so . But there is something that these Gentlemen have in reserve to blow up the seeming Relation ; and she seems , still imports , that tho this seeming relation is suffered to pass at present , yet it must have its period , for this seems still , can have no other meaning . But in what does she promote the disturbance of the State , or patronise the Opposers of her parents , as he says afterwards ( ibid ▪ ) Did she officiously interpose in this matter ? Or was not her sence asked ? And when it was Asked , must she not give it according to her Conscience ? She is too perfect a pattern in all other things , Not to know well how great a respect and submission she owes her Father ; but she is too good a Christian not to know , that her duty to God must go first . And therefore in matter of Religion , when her mind was asked , she could not avoid the giving it according to her Conscience . And all the invidious Expressions which he fastens on this Letter , and which he makes so many Arguments to shew that it could not flow from her , are all the Malicious , and soon discovered Artifices of one that knew , That she had ordered the Letter , and that thought himself safe in this Disguise , in the discharging of his Malice against her . So ingratefully is she requited by a party for whom she had expressed so much Compassion and Charity . This Author ( pag . 53. ) thinks it an indiscreet forecast , to be always Erecting such Horoscopes for the next Heir , both in Discourse and Writing , as seem almost to Calculate the Nativity of the present : and he would almost make this High-Treason . But if it is so , there were many Traytors in England a few years ago ; in which the Next Heir , though but a Brother , was so much considered , That the King himself lookt as one out of countenance and abandoned , and could scarce find Company enough about him for his Entertainment , either in his Bed-Chamber , or in his Walks , when the whole dependance was on the Successor . So if we by turns look a little on the Successor , those who did thus in so scandalous a manner , ought not to take it so very ill from us . In a melancholy state of things it is hard to deny us the Consolation of hoping that we may see better days . But since our Author is so much concerned that this Letter should not be in any manner imputed to the princess , it seems a little strange that the prince is so given up by him , that he is at no pains to clear him of the imputation . For the happy Union that is between them , will readily make us to conclude , That if the prince Ordered it , the princess had likewise her share in it . But I find but one glance at the prince in the whole Book ( pag . 52. ) when the Author is pleasing himself with the hopes of protection from the Royal Heir out of a sence of Filial Duty , ( He concludes ) Especially when so ●early Allied to the very Bosome of the Prince , Whose Way of Worship neither is the same with the National here , and in whose Countrys all Religion , have ever been alike Tolerated . The phrase of so near an Alliance to the very Bosom of a prince , is somewhat extraordinary . An Author that will be florid , scorns so simple an Expression as Married , he thought the other was more lofty ; but the matter of this period is more remarkable . It intimates as if the Prince's way of Worship was so different from ours , tho we hear that he goes frequently with the Princess to her Chappel , and expresses no aversion to any of our Forms , tho he thinks it decent to be more constantly in the Exercises of Devotion that are Authorized in Holland . And as for that , That all Religions have been equally alike Tolerated there , it is another of our Authors slights . I do not hear that there are either Bouzis , or Bramans in Holland ; or that the Mahometans have their Mosques there : and surely his Friends the Roman Catholicks will tell him , that all Religions are not alike Tolerated there . Thus I have followed more largely in this Article than in any other , it being that of the greatest importance , by which he had endeavoured to blast all the good Effects which the Pensioners Letter has had amongst us .

IX . I have now gone over that which I thought most important in this paper , and in which it seemed necessary to inform the publick aright , without insisting on the particular slips of the Author of it , or of the Advantages that he gives to any that would Answer more particularly . I cannot think that any man in the Nation can be now so weak as not to see what must needs be the Effects of the Abolition of the TESTS . After all that we see and hear , t is too great an Affront to mankind to offer to make it out , That a man's Understanding may really mislead him so far ( as to make him change his Religion , he remaining still an Honest man ) that betrays the Legal , and now the only Visible Defenses of that Religion which he professes . The taking away the Tests for publick Employments , is to set up an Office at F. Peters for all pretenders , and perhaps a pretender will not be so much as received , till he has first abjur'd : so that every Vacancy will possibly make five or six Proselites , and those Protestants who are already in Employments , will feel their ground quickly fail under them , and upon the first Complaint they will see what must be done to restore them to Favour . And as for the Two Houses of Parliament , as a great Creation will presently give them the majority in the House of Lords , so a new set of Charters , and bold Returns , will in a little time give them likewise the Majority in the House of Commons , and it is to be supposed that Protestants who have all the Security of the Law for their Religion , can throw that up , who can so much as doubt that when they have brought themselves into so naked a Condition , it will be no hard thing to overturn their whole Establishment ; and then perhaps we shall be told more plainly what is now but darkly insinuated by this Author , That the next Heir seems still to be so nearly related to this State , &c.