SIR
,
THE
News
of
a
Persecution
meerly
for
a
matter
of
Religion
,
at
this
time
a
day
,
when
the
whole
Nation
appears
professedly
to
dislike
it
;
and
the
giving
countenance
to
Informers
(
who
are
the
Pest
of
every
Nation
,
and
the
common
Enemies
of
Property
)
to
the
Prejudice
of
peaceable
People
,
and
those
owned
to
be
Protestants
,
and
known
to
have
had
no
hand
in
the
late
National
Quarrels
,
makes
your
Friends
,
who
have
had
notice
of
your
late
Troubles
,
suspect
that
there
is
something
in
your
case
more
then
ordinary
.
Had
this
fallen
out
in
some
remote
Country
,
where
no
Informer
had
ever
yet
appeared
,
we
might
have
conceived
,
that
through
Ignorance
that
sort
of
Devil
〈…〉
might
have
been
mistaken
for
an
Angel
of
Light
;
and
that
upon
his
bare
averment
,
some
well-meaning
Persons
,
even
against
their
own
Experience
,
might
have
been
induced
to
mistake
their
peaceable
Neighbours
for
Dangerous
Incendiaries
,
and
unworthy
to
enjoy
their
own
proper
Goods
.
Or
had
this
happened
in
a
place
more
near
,
where
the
Name
of
an
Informer
had
been
heard
,
and
his
Malignity
understood
in
the
general
;
but
where
,
through
want
of
conversing
with
Westminsterhall
and
Guildhall
,
they
might
have
taken
the
Fiend
to
have
had
more
power
,
and
more
skill
in
fencing
then
in
truth
he
hath
;
it
would
not
have
been
esteemed
a
very
strange
thing
,
that
a
Magistrate
should
have
been
found
out
,
who
taking
it
to
be
an
impossible
thing
to
secure
himself
against
the
Devil
without
some
sacrifice
,
should
rather
choose
to
make
an
Offering
to
him
of
his
Neighbours
Goods
,
then
to
run
the
hazard
of
losing
his
own
.
But
to
hear
of
a
Persecution
for
Religion
in
a
Country
which
lies
so
near
France
,
where
Protestants
are
allowed
their
publick
Temples
,
under
a
Government
zealously
Popish
:
To
see
an
Informer
,
the
Spie
and
Scout
against
property
,
encouraged
in
the
great
Country
of
property
,
and
that
for
peaceable
Conscience
;
and
in
a
Country
of
so
much
good
Nature
and
Hospitallity
.
But
to
see
that
sort
of
Creature
concerned
in
a
County
so
neer
London
and
Westmin●●er
,
as
not
to
be
capable
of
not
knowing
what
Informers
are
,
how
detestable
their
Trade
,
how
inconsiderable
their
Power
,
how
generally
indigent
and
dissolute
,
how
mean
their
Skill
,
how
little
they
know
more
then
to
subborn
Witnesses
to
commit
Perjuries
,
which
are
discovered
to
their
Confusion
,
is
that
which
raiseth
Wonder
in
some
of
your
Friends
to
so
great
an
height
,
that
they
generally
request
from
your
own
hand
the
true
state
of
your
Cas●
in
all
its
Circumstances
,
to
the
end
they
may
know
,
whether
there
be
any
thing
which
can
differ
it
from
the
common
Cases
of
Persecution
meerly
for
Religion
;
from
which
the
generality
of
the
Country
Gentlemen
of
England
(
and
particularly
those
of
the
Country
where
you
live
)
do
commonly
profess
to
have
as
great
an
abhorrency
,
as
they
have
from
Depopulating
of
Countries
,
which
is
the
Effect
that
such
Persecutions
must
of
necessity
produce
.
In
the
mean
time
,
do
not
(
I
pray
take
me
to
be
one
,
who
think
it
strange
to
hear
of
Troubles
;
what
hath
been
formerly
may
happen
again
without
Astonishment
;
&
you
are
too
well
known
to
be
thought
to
be
surprized
or
afraid
.
Well
did
that
Person
consider
the
Creature
Man
,
who
distinguished
him
into
two
parts
,
viz.
the
Man
,
and
the
Beast
:
But
it
were
happy
for
Mankind
,
if
the
Beast
were
less
imperious
and
cruel
:
In
truth
it
is
hard
to
find
where
the
Man
is
allowed
to
have
any
power
in
Acting
;
every
thing
seems
so
totally
and
absolutely
to
be
governed
by
the
Beast
,
and
by
the
Tyranny
of
its
inordinate
Passions
and
Senses
.
Where
shall
one
find
yet
a
single
Person
in
the
World
,
who
calls
himself
a
Christian
,
or
that
Party
of
Men
who
desire
to
be
esteemed
Christians
,
but
he
and
they
will
readily
grant
that
Principle
,
Mat
.
7.12
.
All
things
whatsoever
ye
would
that
men
should
do
to
you
,
do
you
even
so
to
them
;
for
this
is
the
Law
and
the
Prophets
:
and
that
other
Principle
,
Rom.
3.8
.
Let
us
not
do
Evil
that
Good
may
come
,
to
be
Gospel-Principles
,
and
oblieging
to
all
Mankind
.
There
is
not
a
Politition
or
States-Man
,
nor
a
Government
any
where
,
that
owns
Christianity
to
be
the
true
Religion
,
but
confesseth
,
That
in
the
Council
of
the
Jews
,
which
was
assembled
in
order
to
the
Persecuting
of
the
Apostles
for
Matters
of
meer
Religion
,
Gamaliel
advised
prudently
,
and
according
to
the
Principles
of
true
Religion
,
Acts
5.
Let
them
alone
,
for
if
this
counsel
,
or
this
work
be
of
men
,
it
will
come
to
nought
;
but
if
it
be
of
God
,
we
cannot
overthrow
it
,
least
happily
we
be
found
even
to
sight
against
God
:
They
will
all
confess
readily
,
when
pressed
with
these
charitable
and
peaceable
Principles
;
that
the
Spirit
of
persecuting
for
meer
Religion
,
is
a
Spirit
of
Injustice
,
as
not
doing
to
others
as
our selves
would
be
done
unto
;
and
a
Spirit
of
disfiance
and
incredulity
,
refusing
to
trust
God
,
and
his
providence
,
with
the
defence
and
justification
of
what
is
professed
to
be
of
God
:
and
yet
it
is
hard
to
find
that
single
Person
,
and
much
more
to
Name
,
that
Community
or
Government
amongst
Christians
,
now
in
being
,
whose
practise
,
when
they
have
opertunity
,
and
power
,
are
not
contrary
to
their
Principles
:
And
not
only
so
,
but
they
will
take
upon
them
to
justifie
such
practises
to
be
consistant
with
,
nay
,
even
duties
unto
which
they
are
obliged
by
that
pure
Religion
which
they
take
upon
them
to
prosess
to
the
whole
World
.
But
to
the
end
I
may
not
be
esteemed
presumptuous
,
or
uncharitable
in
what
I
here
assert
,
and
in
regard
it
is
impossible
to
produce
evident
proofs
for
what
I
say
,
as
touching
single
persons
,
let
us
a
little
examine
the
matter
,
as
to
Parties
and
Governments
,
taking
this
for
granted
,
that
every
particular
party
calls
it self
a
true
Church
,
or
the
true
Church
of
Christ
:
If
what
is
here
urged
of
differing
Churches
shall
be
proved
true
,
the
presumption
will
stand
very
strong
as
to
single
persons
;
there
being
no
single
person
,
who
would
be
esteemed
a
Christian
,
but
he
is
in
communion
or
fellowship
with
some
Church
,
which
he
owns
to
be
the
true
Church
of
Christ
,
and
by
whose
Judgment
he
is
willing
to
be
concluded
,
as
being
a
professed
Member
of
it
,
and
as
taking
it
for
his
Principle
;
that
every
Member
of
the
true
Church
of
Christ
ought
to
be
of
her
Judgment
,
because
the
Scripture
sayes
,
She
is
the
Pillar
and
Ground
of
Truth
;
and
though
some
boggle
at
this
,
yet
nothing
is
truer
then
that
every
Christian
Society
daily
practiseth
it
.
Now
,
the
better
to
prepare
the
way
for
this
intended
Tryal
,
we
will
crave
the
Liberty
first
,
to
consider
Christianity
in
the
World
in
general
,
in
its
first
Ages
,
when
it
was
under
Persecution
for
meer
matter
of
Religion
,
and
before
it
gained
any
civil
Power
and
Dominion
,
from
them
we
shall
know
what
the
true
Christianity
did
teach
;
we
will
then
consider
Christianity
in
England
,
when
divided
only
into
two
distinct
Parties
,
viz.
The
Protestants
and
the
Papists
;
and
in
the
last
place
,
we
will
consider
Christianity
in
England
,
when
the
Protestants
were
subdivided
into
several
Parties
,
viz.
The
Episcopal
,
or
Church
of
England
Protestants
,
the
Presbyterians
,
the
Independents
,
the
Anabaptists
and
the
Quakers
:
and
when
the
Papists
were
become
fo
small
,
that
they
were
upon
the
matter
inconsiderable
,
and
I
suppose
from
these
differing
times
,
we
may
hope
for
a
reasonable
Information
.
First
,
Then
suppose
the
question
put
to
the
Christians
of
the
first
and
Primitive
Times
,
under
those
first
and
greatest
Persecutions
,
under
which
Christianity
then
suffered
.
Is
it
lawful
to
persecute
,
and
to
make
and
execute
Laws
for
the
Inflicting
of
Pains
and
Penalties
upon
quiet
and
peaceable
People
for
matters
,
meerly
of
Religion
;
and
in
particular
,
for
meeting
together
meerly
for
matter
of
Religion
?
Doubtless
,
their
answer
would
have
been
given
with
one
general
Voice
:
That
it
was
not
lawful
;
and
that
it
was
against
the
rule
of
Christ
,
and
the
Law
of
Nature
,
Quod
Tibi
non
vis
Alteri
no
feceris
,
Do
not
unto
another
,
what
thou
wouldst
not
have
done
unto
thy self
.
And
that
True
it
is
,
the
Jews
,
who
persecuted
the
Lord
of
Life
,
and
put
him
to
Death
for
matter
of
meer
Religion
,
did
alledge
for
their
Justification
,
that
they
had
a
Law
,
and
that
by
their
Law
he
ought
to
die
:
But
that
,
that
Law
,
and
all
Laws
of
that
Nature
,
were
against
the
Law
of
God
;
and
that
the
Christians
had
no
such
custom
,
nor
the
Churches
of
Christ
,
is
,
I
think
,
a
most
undenyable
thing
.
These
Ages
(
by
the
agreement
of
all
)
were
esteemed
the
purest
Ages
of
Christianity
;
Religion
being
then
most
pure
,
when
the
Professors
of
it
weremost
poor
.
And
if
any
one
shall
conceive
,
that
the
Christians
of
those
Ages
,
would
have
given
any
other
answer
,
contrary
to
what
I
have
here
framed
for
them
,
and
shall
give
a
convincing
Reason
for
such
his
apprehension
,
I
shall
confess
my
mistake
.
In
the
mean
time
I
must
say
,
that
I
cannot
see
what
other
answer
they
could
have
given
,
but
what
must
have
justified
the
Persecutions
against
themselves
to
have
been
innocent
,
on
the
part
of
the
Persecutors
,
who
believed
those
first
Christians
to
Err
in
Religion
,
and
to
be
disturbers
of
the
Peace
,
and
Government
of
their
Countries
;
and
their
Meetings
to
be
unlawful
Assemblies
:
And
much
more
Innocent
on
the
part
of
the
inferiour
Magistrates
,
who
took
care
to
put
those
Laws
in
Execution
;
they
being
as
much
obliged
in
all
civil
Respects
,
to
put
in
Execution
the
Laws
of
their
Superiours
,
as
our
Inferiour
Magistrates
are
obliged
to
the
Execution
of
our
Laws
;
and
they
gave
the
same
Reasons
:
And
the
same
is
to
be
said
in
the
Case
of
the
Persecution
of
our
Lord
Christ
,
as
seems
very
clear
from
that
Prayer
,
which
he
offered
for
his
Persecutors
:
Father
,
forgive
them
,
they
know
not
what
they
do
;
here
then
is
a
Principle
of
Christianity
undivided
.
In
the
next
place
,
we
are
to
consider
Christianity
in
England
,
when
divided
only
into
two
distinct
Parties
,
viz.
Protestants
and
Papists
,
and
when
the
Protestants
had
made
no
Subdivision
amongst
themselves
here
.
This
I
take
to
be
in
the
times
of
K.
Hen
.
8.
K.
Edw
.
6.
Q.
Mary
,
and
part
of
the
Reign
of
Q.
Elizabeth
,
for
though
there
were
diversities
of
Opinions
amongst
Protestants
,
as
well
here
as
in
other
Countries
,
even
in
their
first
beginnings
;
yet
they
were
not
divided
into
parties
,
being
every
where
upon
the
Defensive
.
In
the
time
of
K.
Hen
.
8.
which
I
intend
to
instance
in
,
both
parties
were
Persecuted
.
The
Case
stands
thus
,
that
King
at
his
coming
to
the
Crown
,
found
the
whole
Nation
in
a
quiet
possession
of
Popery
,
&
holding
it
as
an
Article
of
their
Faith
,
and
the
Principle
whereon
they
believed
the
unity
of
their
Faith
depended
,
that
The
Pope
was
the
Supream
Pastor
and
visible
Head
of
Government
next
under
Christ
,
of
that
which
they
then
called
the
Catholick
Church
of
Christ
,
of
which
the
then
National
Church
of
England
was
a
Member
:
The
King
had
defended
this
Article
by
Writing
so
vigorously
,
that
the
Pope
had
for
that
very
work
conferred
upon
him
the
Title
of
Defender
of
the
Faith
,
to
be
enjoyed
and
used
by
him
,
and
his
Successors
forever
.
The
Parliament
of
England
after
this
threw
off
this
Supream
Pastour
,
this
visible
Head
,
and
put
this
King
into
his
place
;
so
far
as
concerned
the
Church
of
England
,
by
the
Title
of
Supream
Head
of
the
Church
of
England
,
annexed
to
the
Crown
;
and
this
by
a
Law
,
26
Hen
.
8.
C.
1.
And
then
by
another
Law
,
26
Hen
.
8.
C.
13.
It
was
Enacted
,
That
if
any
by
Word
or
Writing
,
should
attempt
to
deprive
the
King
of
the
Title
of
his
Royal
Estate
,
he
should
be
adjudged
a
Traytor
:
This
change
of
the
Headship
of
the
Church
,
was
,
and
is
truly
(
at
least
in
England
)
a
Protestant
Doctrine
;
and
undoubtedly
there
is
no
Protestant
whatsoever
,
but
approves
the
casting
off
the
Popes
Headship
,
as
conformable
with
the
Doctrine
of
Protestants
.
And
upon
the
latter
of
these
two
Laws
,
divers
suffered
death
for
their
denying
the
Kings
Supremacy
;
this
was
the
first
step
made
in
England
,
from
Popery
towards
Protestancy
.
And
the
Vigorous
Execution
of
this
latter
Law
,
encouraged
several
Protestants
from
forraign
parts
to
come
into
England
,
not
doubting
but
to
have
a
Liberty
to
exercise
their
Religion
here
;
and
it
gave
confidence
to
many
of
the
Subjects
of
England
to
receive
,
and
to
others
,
to
entertain
good
thoughts
of
Protestancy
;
being
perswaded
,
that
after
the
sheding
of
so
much
Blood
,
as
had
been
shed
here
upon
that
Occasion
,
England
would
never
any
more
admit
of
the
Article
of
the
Popes
Supremacy
;
and
Consequently
,
would
every
day
make
greater
steps
from
that
Church
,
of
which
the
Pope
was
owned
to
be
the
Supream
Pastour
.
And
certain
it
is
,
that
Protestancy
upon
this
Occasion
also
made
its
entrance
into
England
,
and
gained
Ground
here
,
and
such
(
if
not
by
open
application
to
the
King
for
that
purpose
yet
)
at
least
in
their
Hearts
desired
a
Toleration
,
and
to
be
admitted
to
Preach
,
and
Exercise
their
Religion
here
,
without
being
Persecuted
for
their
so
doing
;
so
that
their
Principle
was
at
that
time
(
at
least
)
against
Persecution
for
meer
Religion
.
But
Protestancy
being
now
taken
notice
of
to
grow
,
another
Law
was
made
,
31
Hen
.
8.
for
settling
unity
of
Opinion
in
the
six
Articles
therein
named
,
by
which
the
denyal
of
Tansubstantiation
,
and
several
other
Doctrines
therein
named
,
are
Enacted
to
be
punished
with
Death
.
And
now
Persecution
in
England
,
for
matters
of
meer
Religion
grew
sharp
and
high
;
so
that
it
is
observed
by
our
Historians
,
that
upon
one
&
the
same
day
,
some
who
were
professed
Papists
,
were
put
to
death
for
denying
the
Kings
Supremacy
,
which
was
a
Protestant
Article
;
and
some
who
were
professed
Protestants
,
were
put
to
death
for
denying
Transubstantiation
,
which
was
an
Article
of
the
Papists
;
so
that
at
this
time
,
the
Government
could
neither
be
said
to
be
Popish
,
nor
Protestant
,
but
both
parties
were
persecuted
most
severely
for
matters
of
meer
Religion
:
and
he
who
should
then
have
said
to
either
party
,
in
justification
of
the
Proceedings
of
the
Magistrate
in
the
Execution
of
either
of
those
Laws
,
that
that
party
did
not
then
suffer
for
any
matter
of
meer
Religion
,
but
for
breaking
of
the
Peace
,
in
breaking
of
the
Kings
Laws
,
would
certainly
have
been
taken
not
to
have
understood
those
Laws
,
or
the
cause
of
their
then
Suffering
.
And
now
,
suppose
each
of
these
parties
seperately
interrogated
,
when
thus
under
Persecution
(
for
Afflictio
dat
Intellectum
)
Is
it
lawful
to
Persecute
,
and
to
make
and
Execute
Laws
,
for
the
Inflicting
of
Pains
&
Penalties
upon
quiet
&
peaceable
People
,
for
matters
of
meer
Religion
?
most
certainly
each
party
in
their
then
present
Circumstances
,
would
have
answered
in
the
Negative
;
that
it
was
not
lawful
:
They
would
not
have
fallen
into
the
debate
to
consider
what
Religion
their
Persecutors
were
of
,
whether
of
the
Popish
or
Protestant
,
to
the
end
,
to
have
fixt
the
Cruelty
and
Injustice
of
persecuting
for
a
matter
of
meer
Religion
,
upon
that
party
,
as
a
Principle
of
that
Religion
,
which
their
Fancies
should
have
perswaded
them
to
have
been
the
Religion
of
their
Persecutors
;
the
Papists
would
not
have
then
stood
formalizing
that
,
because
the
first
Persecution
was
occasioned
upon
the
denyal
of
the
Kings
Headship
over
the
Church
of
England
,
which
was
a
Protestant
Doctrine
,
in
opposition
to
the
Popes
Headship
,
which
was
the
Popish
Doctrine
;
therefore
the
Protestants
were
the
Agressors
in
the
Persecution
;
and
therefore
the
Principle
of
Persecution
was
a
Protestant
Principle
;
And
therefore
,
the
Persecution
of
the
Protestants
afterwards
was
no
other
then
a
just
Judgment
of
God
drawn
upon
the
Protestants
by
themselves
,
as
a
Consequence
of
that
Principle
of
Persecution
,
which
gave
them
the
first
occasion
or
oppertunity
of
introducing
their
Religion
into
England
;
nor
would
the
Protestants
by
way
of
Recrimination
have
charged
the
Papists
then
,
that
because
that
King
and
the
then
Government
were
of
the
Popish
Religion
in
every
point
,
save
only
in
the
Article
touching
the
Supremacy
;
therefore
the
Principle
of
Persecution
must
necessarily
be
a
Popish
Principle
:
No
,
they
would
most
certainly
each
party
have
disclaimed
the
Principle
,
as
unwarranted
by
the
Principles
of
true
Christianity
,
which
each
of
them
claimed
to
be
theirs
,
and
each
of
them
would
have
agreed
,
tha●
it
was
their
common
Principle
to
do
unto
others
as
they
desired
ot●ers
should
do
unto
them
;
here
we
see
the
Principle
of
Christianity
in
England
when
divided
.
The
Persecutions
before
mentioned
,
being
quieted
by
the
Death
of
K.
Henry
the
Eight
,
and
the
Crown
descending
unto
K.
Edward
the
Sixth
,
an
Infant
of
such
tender
Years
,
as
made
him
uncapable
of
Exercising
the
Government
in
his
own
Person
,
not
being
com●
to
the
use
of
right
Reason
;
the
Duke
of
Somerset
took
upon
him
the
Administraction
of
all
things
,
under
the
Title
of
Protector
,
and
with
him
the
Protestant
party
had
their
sole
Interest
.
Several
Penal
Laws
were
made
in
this
Kings
Reign
,
for
the
Inflicting
Pains
and
Penalties
for
matters
of
meer
Religion
,
which
gave
occasion
to
the
Papists
to
charge
upon
Protestants
the
Principle
of
Persecution
for
matters
of
meer
Religion
as
their
Principle
:
It
is
true
,
the
Papists
were
at
that
time
Sufferers
,
and
were
actually
Persecuted
by
the
then
Government
for
matters
of
meer
Religion
;
but
true
Charity
might
easily
have
found
other
Reasons
,
unto
which
those
Persecutions
might
warrantably
have
been
Asigned
,
and
there
was
certainly
no
necessity
of
Assigning
them
to
any
Principle
of
the
Protestants
;
the
first
Law
which
was
made
,
relating
to
these
matters
,
was
1●
Edw
.
6.
C.
1.
touching
the
Lords
Supper
,
Entituled
,
The
Penalties
for
speaking
against
the
Sacrament
of
the
Body
and
Blood
of
Christ
,
or
against
the
receiving
thereof
in
both
kinds
:
This
seems
to
have
no
other
tendency
then
barely
to
keep
both
Parties
from
falling
together
by
the
Ears
,
and
the
Protestants
were
more
likely
to
fall
under
the
Punishment
of
this
Law
then
the
Papists
:
none
could
say
that
it
was
the
effect
of
Intemperate
Spirits
;
for
though
it
directed
Communion
in
both
kinds
,
to
such
as
desired
to
communicate
;
yet
it
compelled
not
any
person
to
communicate
:
And
it
had
a
Clause
of
great
Temperance
in
the
very
close
of
it
in
these
words
,
Not
condemning
hereby
the
usuage
of
any
Church
out
of
the
Kings
Majesties
Dominions
.
The
next
Law
of
this
Nature
,
was
made
in
the
same
Parliament
,
viz.
1
Edward
6.
C.
12.
It
is
Entituled
thus
,
viz.
Statutes
concerning
Treasons
,
&c.
repealed
;
and
this
cannot
be
denyed
to
be
sharp
against
the
Papists
.
It
makes
it
highly
Penal
to
affirm
,
That
the
King
is
not
,
or
ought
not
to
be
Supream
Head
on
Earth
of
the
Church
of
England
and
Ireland
,
or
any
of
them
immediately
under
God
;
or
that
the
Bishop
of
Rome
,
or
any
other
Person
or
Persons
,
other
then
the
King
of
England
for
the
time
being
,
is
,
or
ought
to
be
by
the
Laws
of
God
Supream
Head
of
the
same
Churches
,
or
any
of
them
:
But
there
is
no
necessity
or
reason
of
ass
ribing
this
to
any
Protestant
Principle
,
though
it
is
supposed
to
be
made
in
affirmance
of
a
Protestant
Principle
.
Another
penal
Law
was
made
2●
and
3●
.
Edw
.
6.
Entituled
,
The
Penalty
for
not
using
Uniformity
of
Service
and
Administration
of
Sacraments
.
And
in
3●
and
4●
Edw
.
6.
C.
10.
was
made
an
Act
,
For
the
abolishing
and
putting
away
of
divers
Books
and
Images
:
Both
which
were
severe
against
the
Papists
in
matters
of
meer
Religion
;
yet
do
I
not
find
any
necessity
why
the
Persecutions
,
which
these
Statutes
occasioned
,
should
be
imputed
to
any
Protestant
Principle
.
During
the
whole
Reign
of
this
Infant
King
,
it
is
clear
,
that
the
Papists
suffered
Persecution
from
the
Hands
of
the
Protestants
for
matters
of
meer
Religion
;
and
without
doubt
,
had
it
been
then
demanded
of
the
Papists
,
whether
such
Persecutions
and
such
Laws
Enacting
such
Persecutions
were
lawful
,
and
agreeable
with
the
Principles
of
true
Christianity
,
which
they
pretended
to
maintain
;
their
Answer
would
have
been
in
the
Negative
:
And
they
would
then
with
one
accord
have
readily
agreed
,
that
Persecution
for
matters
of
meer
Religion
,
was
no
more
consistant
with
the
Rule
of
Christ
,
requiring
us
,
To
do
unto
others
,
as
we
would
that
others
should
do
unto
us
,
then
Murder
and
Robbery
.
But
the
Persecutions
Inflicted
upon
the
Papists
,
by
the
Law
made
in
the
time
of
King
Edward
the
Sixth
,
did
not
last
long
,
they
ended
with
his
Life
;
and
by
the
descending
of
the
Crown
to
Queen
Mary
,
the
Papists
were
rescued
from
all
their
Sufferings
.
All
the
Laws
made
against
them
in
the
times
of
Hen
.
8.
and
Edw
.
the
6.
were
Reprealed
;
but
the
case
was
altered
with
the
poor
Protestants
,
whose
Sufferings
were
so
great
,
and
are
so
sharply
&
justly
reflected
on
,
even
to
this
day
,
that
I
,
who
love
not
to
aggravate
any
thing
,
especially
that
carries
its
own
aggravation
with
it
,
will
say
no
more
of
them
,
but
beg
of
our
good
God
to
blot
them
out
of
our
remembrance
.
Sure
I
am
,
had
any
Protestant
been
asked
his
Judgment
in
that
Age
,
touching
the
Principle
of
Persecuting
for
matters
of
meer
Religion
,
he
would
have
disclaimed
it
,
as
absolutely
contrary
to
the
Principles
of
his
Religion
,
which
is
the
point
that
I
am
labouring
to
Evince
.
And
after
all
this
,
shall
any
one
take
it
ill
,
if
upon
a
Principle
of
Charity
I
shall
profess
,
that
I
could
never
as
yet
see
any
thing
offered
,
which
in
my
poor
apprehension
did
necessarily
Evince
;
That
Persecution
for
meer
Religion
,
was
even
an
avowed
Principle
of
either
side
.
The
bloody
Fury
of
Persecution
,
under
which
the
Protestants
suffered
so
miserably
in
Q.
Maries
time
,
did
end
with
her
Reign
,
which
was
but
short
;
and
after
that
,
the
Protestants
never
suffered
more
from
the
Papists
.
But
upon
the
death
of
Q.
Mary
,
the
Crown
coming
to
Q.
Elizabeth
;
and
she
thereupon
declaring
her self
a
firm
,
a
zealous
,
and
to
all
intents
,
religiously
a
Potestant
,
the
edge
came
strong
against
the
Papists
,
before
any
differences
were
discerned
to
be
among
the
Protestants
.
Several
of
the
Popish
Clergy
suffered
Persecution
some
even
unto
Death
in
several
parts
of
the
Kingdom
:
And
new
Laws
were
from
time
to
time
,
framed
and
multiplyed
for
those
purposes
.
And
if
now
we
ask
the
Opinion
of
the
Papists
as
to
Penal
Laws
,
either
Sanguinary
or
others
,
and
Persecution
,
for
meer
matter
of
Religion
;
they
will
tell
you
(
and
they
continue
in
that
protestation
even
unto
this
day
)
That
all
such
Laws
and
Persecutions
are
unlawful
,
and
against
the
Principles
of
the
Gospel
:
And
though
the
Protestants
under
several
changes
,
have
been
in
the
possession
of
those
Laws
,
and
have
at
times
more
or
less
Executed
them
;
yet
(
so
far
as
I
can
find
)
they
do
not
own
Persecution
for
matters
meerly
of
Religion
to
be
their
Principle
,
or
lawful
.
After
the
Papists
had
some
time
continued
the
alone
Persecuted
Party
for
Matters
meerly
of
Religion
,
several
Differences
,
in
Matters
meerly
of
Religion
,
happened
to
divide
the
Protestants
into
distinct
and
separate
Parties
during
some
part
of
the
Reign
of
Queen
Elizabeth
,
and
also
during
the
several
and
successive
Reigns
of
King
James
and
King
Charles
the
first
;
and
about
the
beginning
of
the
Reign
of
King
James
,
some
particular
desperate
Malecontents
,
professedly
of
the
Popish
Religion
,
being
found
guilty
of
a
most
hellish
Plot
,
whereby
they
had
designed
the
Destruction
both
of
that
King
and
of
his
Parliament
by
Gun-powder
(
for
which
they
were
deservedly
Executed
)
several
new
and
more
severe
Laws
were
then
,
and
at
several
times
after
,
made
against
the
Papists
in
general
,
by
which
several
Punishments
were
inflicted
on
them
for
Matters
of
meer
Religion
;
and
several
penal
Laws
were
also
made
,
by
which
the
then
Governing
Protestant
Party
,
then
,
and
still
distinguished
by
the
Name
of
the
Church
of
England
,
or
the
Episcopal
Party
persecuted
them
.
The
Dissenting
Protestants
of
all
sorts
were
prosecuted
under
the
general
Name
of
Non-conformists
,
who
cryed
aloud
to
have
a
Toleration
granted
,
that
is
,
to
themselves
;
&
declared
it
absolutely
Unlawful
to
punish
any
for
Matters
of
meer
Religion
;
and
when
this
(
by
them
so
much
desired
Toleration
)
could
not
be
obtained
otherwise
,
they
took
up
Arms
,
and
we
all
know
what
followed
.
During
the
continuance
of
this
before-mentioned
War
,
and
after
King
Charles
the
first
was
not
able
to
make
head
against
the
Non-conformists
,
the
Non-conformistt
retaliated
the
Church
of
England
,
and
not
a
little
crusht
the
Popish
Party
,
both
having
engaged
on
t'other
side
,
and
being
of
other
Religions
,
esteemed
themselves
persecuted
for
matter
of
Religion
.
That
War
being
ended
with
the
Death
of
King
Charles
the
first
,
and
the
expelling
of
our
present
King
out
of
his
Dominions
,
and
the
total
Ruin
of
Episcopacy
,
and
the
Supression
of
the
Papists
,
and
the
total
change
of
the
Government
,
the
Non-conformists
under
the
several
Forms
took
upon
them
and
kept
the
Government
,
until
our
present
King
was
by
the
Divine
Hand
of
Providence
restored
to
his
Crown
;
during
all
which
time
the
Episcopal
Party
and
the
Papists
suffered
,
more
or
less
,
for
matters
(
at
least
in
their
apprehension
)
meerly
of
Religion
.
But
these
two
Parties
were
not
alone
in
their
sufferings
,
for
during
those
bloody
contests
there
appeared
another
party
which
from
its
very
first
appearing
in
this
Kingdom
hath
been
severely
Persecuted
,
and
that
only
for
matters
of
Religion
,
this
party
was
the
people
called
Quakers
;
they
did
at
their
first
shewing
themselves
in
the
World
,
go
under
the
name
of
the
Children
of
Light
,
because
they
assert
as
their
main
and
first
Principle
,
that
every
man
and
woman
is
inlightned
with
a
saving
Light
from
God
,
which
all
ought
to
obey
on
pain
of
Damnation
;
but
by
one
Bennit
a
Justi●e
,
in
1650.
were
nick-named
Quakers
,
they
professed
themselves
to
adhere
to
the
plain
Principles
of
the
first
Christians
,
and
particularly
to
hold
it
as
their
Principle
,
that
all
Persecution
whatsoever
,
against
any
Party
,
People
,
or
Person
whatsoever
,
for
matters
meerly
of
Religion
is
absolutely
Unlawfull
,
Unrighteous
,
and
against
the
Spirit
and
Will
of
God
,
and
destructive
of
the
true
Christianity
;
and
to
give
them
their
due
,
they
have
been
true
Contenders
for
their
Principle
,
both
by
their
frequent
Apologies
and
Remonstrances
on
the
one
hand
,
and
invincible
patience
in
Suffering
on
the
other
hand
.
Upon
the
Restauration
of
our
present
King
,
the
Episcopal
party
was
also
restored
.
The
Presbyterians
,
Independents
and
Anabaptists
expected
a
general
toleration
in
matters
of
Religion
according
to
some
of
the
Kings
gracious
Letters
,
as
a
Reward
for
their
not
opposing
the
Restauration
of
the
King
:
The
Papists
also
expected
the
same
thing
,
as
a
reward
for
their
Loyalty
in
adhering
to
the
Crown
;
the
Quakers
,
now
a
great
People
,
grew
confident
of
the
like
freedom
,
because
of
their
Innofensiveness
to
Government
.
But
instead
of
this
expected
liberty
;
all
the
former
Penal
Laws
made
in
the
respective
times
of
Q.
Elizabeth
.
K.
James
.
and
K.
Charles
the
first
were
revived
and
ordered
to
be
put
in
Execution
as
well
against
all
Non-conformists
,
who
were
Protestants
,
as
against
the
Papists
.
And
new
and
more
severe
Laws
were
made
against
them
all
:
And
by
these
respective
practices
we
see
what
all
these
parties
have
done
when
they
had
Power
.
I
think
such
as
understand
the
Transactions
of
our
Country
will
clear
me
from
having
made
any
mistake
as
to
matters
of
fact
,
in
any
thing
that
I
have
here
said
,
touching
past
Persecutions
,
though
I
believe
there
will
not
want
some
who
will
either
think
me
mistaken
in
the
point
of
C●arity
,
when
I
profess
to
believe
that
I
do
not
think
there
is
any
one
party
now
in
England
who
holds
it
as
a
Principle
of
their
Religion
,
that
it
is
Lawfull
to
persecute
,
or
to
make
or
Execute
Laws
for
the
inflicting
of
Paines
or
Penalties
for
any
matters
of
meer
Religion
,
or
else
they
will
suspect
I
do
not
in
Truth
bel●eve
what
I
here
profess
to
believe
in
this
point
,
since
even
by
my
own
shewing
in
the
several
matters
of
fact
before
Urged
by
my self
,
it
plainly
appears
,
that
there
is
not
one
party
now
in
England
(
the
People
called
Quakers
only
excepted
)
who
profess
themselves
Christians
;
but
have
been
notoriously
guilty
(
more
or
less
)
of
the
very
Fact
,
or
(
at
least
)
of
a
publick
allowing
,
if
not
abetting
of
it
:
And
every
party
will
be
apt
to
sensure
me
of
Singularity
(
at
least
)
since
each
party
thinks
that
they
have
Arguments
drawn
from
Facts
,
sufficient
to
fix
this
ugly
Doctrine
as
a
Principle
upon
that
Religion
which
they
hate
most
.
O
that
the
Man
could
prevail
against
the
Beast
!
and
that
we
would
permit
our
Passions
to
give
way
to
our
Reason
,
to
consider
things
nakedly
,
and
as
they
truly
are
,
Si
Satis
est
accusasse
Quis
erit
Innocens
?
If
to
accuse
be
a
sufficient
Conviction
,
what
party
shall
be
able
to
clear
it self
,
and
who
knows
not
that
't
is
a
Christians
part
to
suffer
,
but
never
to
Persecute
.
I
very
well
know
,
that
the
Protestants
in
general
,
who
look
upon
the
Papists
as
their
common
Enemies
,
do
in
their
Pulpits
,
in
their
Writings
,
and
in
all
their
Addresses
to
the
People
,
charge
them
with
those
Rivers
of
Blood
which
streamed
in
the
times
of
Q.
Mary
,
and
with
the
bloody
Intentions
which
those
miscreants
had
in
their
Hearts
,
who
were
engaged
in
the
hellish
Powder-plot
;
that
the
first
was
done
by
authority
,
and
chiefly
by
the
Popish
Bishops
,
that
the
other
,
though
the
Fact
;
but
of
private
persons
,
were
never
condemned
by
authority
;
and
silence
is
an
implyed
consent
and
approbation
.
Do
we
well
consider
what
the
Papists
offer
by
way
of
extenuation
in
answer
to
these
Charages
?
they
iustifie
none
of
these
Facts
:
But
as
to
the
first
,
they
recommend
to
us
to
be
considered
,
the
Circumstances
that
Q.
Mary
was
in
when
she
came
to
the
Crown
,
all
the
chief
Heads
of
the
Protestant
party
,
had
set
up
and
Proclaimed
the
Lady
Jane
duly
Queen
,
in
opposition
to
Q.
Mary
,
their
lawful
Soveraign
;
they
had
raised
an
Army
against
her
;
she
was
compelled
to
gain
her
Right
by
force
;
she
was
a
Conquerer
:
And
if
we
will
believe
them
,
she
had
not
given
any
Articles
which
might
have
obliged
her
to
pardon
any
who
were
guilty
of
this
Usurpation
,
and
Treason
;
she
was
told
it
was
a
Confederacy
of
the
whole
party
of
the
Protestants
,
which
gave
her
a
ground
to
suspect
,
that
the
Protestants
held
it
for
a
Principle
,
that
it
was
lawful
for
them
to
take
up
Arms
aga●nst
,
and
depose
their
lawful
Soveraign
,
if
of
a
Religion
contrary
to
them
.
She
might
by
the
Laws
then
in
being
(
the
same
which
we
have
to
this
day
in
force
amongst
us
)
have
taken
away
the
Lives
of
all
who
were
any
wayes
Guilty
of
endeavouring
to
depose
her
;
she
did
not
make
any
one
new
per●ecuting
Law
(
which
is
considerable
)
by
which
any
of
those
were
taken
off
who
were
put
to
Death
:
But
being
put
into
fears
by
her
Council
;
that
without
making
great
Examples
of
Justice
in
all
parts
of
the
Kindom
,
she
would
be
in
danger
of
having
new
Insurrections
made
by
the
Protestants
against
her
,
she
was
perswaded
that
the
only
way
to
prevent
the
sheding
of
more
Blood
for
the
future
,
was
to
punish
considerable
numbers
of
those
who
had
then
actually
broken
the
old
Laws
of
her
Kingdom
.
Her
Bishops
(
and
that
is
the
chief
and
just
ground
of
the
charge
)
had
their
fears
and
revenge
also
,
in
particular
,
they
were
newly
restord
to
their
Bishopricks
,
and
Religion
,
of
which
they
had
been
dispossessed
in
the
time
of
King
Edward
the
Sixth
,
they
were
afraid
of
being
again
disturbed
;
and
these
fears
and
passions
made
them
take
wrong
measures
.
They
perswaded
the
Queen
,
that
she
might
as
well
make
Examples
of
Justice
,
and
prevent
future
Insurrections
,
by
punishing
those
for
their
Religion
,
who
had
been
Guilty
of
Treason
,
as
if
she
had
punished
them
for
Treason
:
and
they
urged
,
that
by
this
way
she
should
do
her self
the
greater
right
,
and
give
a
proof
to
the
World
,
that
she
was
more
offended
with
Treason
committed
against
Heaven
,
(
for
so
they
esteemed
Protestant
Religion
)
then
with
Treason
committed
against
her self
,
which
might
be
interpreted
Revenge
;
they
had
forgotten
the
true
Principles
of
the
true
Christian
Religion
,
which
required
to
leave
unto
God
to
Revenge
whatsoever
Injuries
are
done
to
him
,
and
to
leave
it
to
God
to
judge
what
Injuries
were
done
to
him
,
They
did
not
now
think
of
doing
unto
others
as
they
would
that
others
should
do
unto
them
;
they
did
not
remember
the
wise
advice
of
Gamaliel
,
before
mentioned
,
but
giving
Ear
only
to
their
own
Fears
,
and
preferring
Human
policies
before
Gospel-Rules
,
they
misled
the
Queen
,
and
took
away
the
Lives
of
vast
numbers
of
such
against
whom
nothing
could
be
c●arged
,
but
what
was
matter
of
meer
Religion
,
thereby
giving
a
Just
occasion
to
charge
upon
their
own
Religion
the
Principle
of
Persecution
for
meer
Religion
,
which
those
who
now
profess
that
Religion
,
do
pretend
to
disown
and
abominate
.
And
as
to
the
business
of
the
Powder-plot
,
they
pray
us
to
observe
,
that
it
was
the
Treason
,
not
of
the
Papists
of
England
,
but
of
a
few
particular
persons
of
Dseperate
fortunes
and
worse
Consciences
,
and
not
without
suspition
of
being
drawn
into
the
Snare
by
their
Enemies
,
that
upon
the
most
severe
Scrutiny
which
could
be
made
into
that
business
,
it
clearly
appeared
,
that
the
number
of
the
offenders
was
not
greater
then
what
happens
sometimes
to
be
engaged
in
a
particular
Burglary
,
and
not
so
many
as
to
make
up
the
fourth
part
of
a
foot
Company
of
Souldiers
,
that
the
Villany
of
that
design
hath
been
as
fully
and
generally
,
yea
,
and
as
publickly
decryed
,
condemned
and
reprobated
by
the
whole
party
of
the
English
Papists
of
that
Age
,
and
of
all
succeeding
Ages
,
as
any
thing
can
be
by
a
party
in
Persecution
who
have
not
ever
had
any
oportunities
or
allowances
to
act
in
any
case
otherwise
then
each
person
of
the
party
as
a
private
person
,
and
only
in
his
private
capacity
:
And
they
appeal
to
the
Justice
of
those
who
profess
to
have
the
greatest
Aversion
of
all
others
against
the
Religion
of
the
Papists
,
whether
they
will
admit
it
as
a
rule
that
the
Villanies
of
some
private
persons
,
who
profess
themselves
to
be
in
fellowship
or
communion
with
any
Church
or
people
,
calling
themselves
Christians
,
may
in
Justice
and
ought
in
reason
to
be
charged
as
proceeding
from
the
Principles
,
Doctrines
,
or
Religion
of
that
Church
or
people
with
which
private
persons
profess
to
be
in
communion
or
fellowship
?
they
cry
out
,
God
forbid
any
such
rule
should
have
credit
in
the
World
.
On
the
other
side
,
I
am
not
ignorant
,
that
the
Papists
who
Esteem
the
Protestants
in
general
as
their
mortal
enemies
,
by
whom
they
apprehend
themselves
to
have
been
deprived
of
what
is
most
dear
unto
them
,
from
the
time
that
the
Protestant
Religion
first
gained
a
preheminency
in
England
,
are
as
highly
Uncharitable
towards
the
Protestants
,
as
these
are
severe
in
their
censures
towards
them
.
They
look
upon
the
Protestants
as
the
Israelites
did
upon
the
Egyptians
,
they
charged
upon
them
the
guilt
of
all
the
Blood
that
hath
been
shed
,
of
all
the
Persecutions
which
have
hapned
for
matters
of
meer
Religion
,
since
the
first
Act
of
Parliament
of
that
Nature
,
made
by
King
Hen
.
8.
unto
this
hour
;
insinuating
,
that
what
was
so
cruelly
acted
by
Q.
Maries
Bishops
,
was
occasioned
by
the
Provocations
given
in
the
time
of
King
Edw
.
the
6th
and
warranted
(
as
far
as
ill
Acts
can
be
warranted
)
first
,
by
the
Non-conformists
retaliations
towards
the
Church
of
England
,
when
subdued
by
them
upon
the
Death
of
King
Charles
the
first
,
and
then
by
the
present
Retaliation
made
to
the
Non-conformists
by
those
of
the
Church
of
England
,
since
the
Restauration
of
our
present
Soveraign
.
In
short
,
as
the
Protestants
in
general
,
to
excuse
and
Justifie
themselves
,
labour
to
cast
Persecution
for
matters
of
meer
Religion
upon
the
Papists
,
as
a
principle
of
Popery
;
so
the
Papists
are
as
Industrious
to
perswade
the
World
that
it
is
a
principle
of
Protestancy
.
I
might
here
by
way
of
Apology
and
Extenuation
refer
the
Papists
,
as
they
do
the
Protestants
,
to
consider
of
Circumstances
of
times
and
things
which
occasioned
their
Severities
against
them
,
as
the
unruliness
which
might
probably
be
amongst
the
people
in
the
time
of
King
Edw
.
the
6th
to
see
their
Religion
altered
as
they
conceived
,
by
the
Protector
.
And
in
Q.
Elizabeth's
time
,
besides
the
resentment
which
the
Protestants
had
of
the
Cruelties
which
were
exercised
against
them
in
Q.
Maries
time
,
It
is
certain
,
the
Papists
did
not
look
upon
Q.
Elizabeth
to
have
any
Right
to
the
Crown
;
she
having
been
declared
by
the
Judicial
Sentence
,
and
Judgment
of
Arch-Bishop
Cranmer
to
be
Illigitimate
;
and
the
Marriage
between
King
Hen
.
8.
and
Anne
of
Bullen
her
Mother
,
being
by
the
same
Sentence
declared
absolutely
void
ab
Initio
,
and
that
Sentence
confirmed
by
Act
of
Parliament
,
28.
Hen
.
8.
C.
7.
So
that
the
Papists
took
Q.
Mary
of
Scotland
to
be
the
Rightful
Heir
to
the
Crown
,
and
Rightful
Queen
,
and
Q.
Elizabeth
was
constarined
by
great
necessity
to
keep
them
under
;
but
Apologies
are
not
proper
to
be
made
on
the
behalf
of
those
,
who
have
the
Authority
towards
those
who
are
subjected
.
And
as
the
Protestants
in
general
,
and
the
Papists
,
reproached
each
other
,
reciprocally
charging
upon
each
other
that
Persecution
for
matters
of
meer
Religion
was
a
principle
of
each
others
Religion
;
so
did
the
Episcopal
Protestants
,
and
the
Non-conformists
:
The
Episcopal
party
,
who
first
persecuted
the
Non-conformists
under
the
general
Name
of
Puritans
,
or
Presbyterians
,
affirmed
,
that
their
first
beginners
in
Scotland
,
from
whence
they
derived
themselves
,
did
more
then
any
Party
upon
Earth
Persecute
others
for
matters
of
meer
Religion
,
and
had
gained
a
Power
by
their
Usurpation
,
Oppression
and
Persecution
,
being
a
sort
of
People
who
wanted
the
very
essentials
(
as
they
said
)
of
Religion
,
viz.
a
right
Ordination
,
without
which
(
as
they
alleadge
)
there
could
be
no
true
Church
,
no
true
Ministry
or
true
Sacraments
:
And
that
,
therefore
they
ought
by
Penal
Laws
,
timely
made
,
to
be
prevented
from
making
Disturbances
in
England
.
The
Puritans
to
justifie
themselves
,
denying
Persecution
for
matters
of
meer
Religion
to
be
their
Principle
,
or
to
be
lawful
,
laboured
to
fix
it
upon
the
Church
of
England
as
their
Principle
,
and
as
taken
up
by
them
from
the
Papists
.
And
as
to
the
particulars
charged
upon
those
of
Scotland
,
they
said
,
That
whatsoever
those
of
the
Reformation
had
done
in
Scotland
,
was
approved
and
abetted
by
Q.
Elizabeth
,
and
the
Protestants
of
England
,
without
whose
advice
nothing
in
Scotland
had
been
Transacted
,
and
without
whose
assistance
things
had
not
been
so
Effected
;
they
further
said
as
to
the
point
of
Ordination
,
that
the
Church
of
England
ought
not
in
reason
,
to
account
Episcopal
Ordination
to
be
such
an
essential
of
Religion
as
they
charged
,
for
that
if
no
Ordination
could
be
valid
but
by
Bishops
,
that
then
it
would
follow
,
that
no
Ordination
could
be
valid
but
from
true
and
rightful
Bishops
of
the
true
Church
of
Christ
;
and
then
the
Ordination
of
the
Church
of
England
would
be
as
invalid
as
the
Ordination
of
those
of
Scotland
;
for
the
Church
of
England
could
make
out
no
Succession
of
Bishops
,
but
through
the
Popish
Church
,
which
bot●
partie●
(
as
well
those
of
the
Church
of
England
,
a●
tho●e
o●
Scotlan●●
)
had
con●emned
and
agreed
to
be
a
false
Church
,
and
no
true
Church
of
Christ
,
but
an
Harlot
and
Anti-Christian
.
Thus
the
Episcopal
Protestants
and
the
Puritans
charged
and
recriminated
each
other
,
the
Episcopal
party
nevertheless
making
good
their
ground
,
so
long
as
they
had
the
Civil
Power
to
support
them
;
but
when
upon
the
Death
of
K.
Charles
the
first
,
the
Non-conformists
gained
the
civil
Power
into
their
Hands
,
the
Church
of
Englands
party
(
like
all
parties
opprest
)
being
under
Persecution
together
with
the
Papists
for
matters
of
meer
Religion
,
Did
absolutely
condemn
all
such
persecutions
as
unlawful
;
and
then
the
Non-conformists
(
who
were
at
that
time
sub-divided
,
and
brancht
out
into
several
other
parties
)
gave
occasion
to
charge
them
with
the
Principle
of
Persecution
for
meer
Religion
,
and
put
them
to
use
the
same
Arguments
to
clear
themselves
,
as
the
Episcopal
Party
and
Papists
had
respectively
before
made
use
of
,
when
the
Government
was
in
them
,
to
prevail
with
the
World
,
to
believe
that
they
abhorred
the
principle
of
Persecution
for
meer
Religion
;
and
that
the
Persecutions
used
by
them
,
were
not
for
any
matters
of
meer
Religion
,
nor
in
Truth
Persecutions
,
but
purely
acts
of
prudence
,
and
doing
right
to
themselves
by
a
just
care
to
keep
the
Episcopal
party
and
the
Papists
out
of
all
possibility
of
persecuting
them
any
more
for
the
future
.
But
none
of
them
could
find
any
reason
of
that
Nature
to
excuse
the
Persecutions
,
which
they
used
towards
the
people
called
Quakers
,
they
could
not
charge
them
with
ever
having
persecuted
any
Party
or
Person
:
yet
in
Fact
,
both
the
Non-conformists
and
the
Episcopal
party
did
Persecute
them
in
their
turns
;
and
therefore
to
prevent
being
charged
for
persecuting
a
quiet
People
for
matters
of
meer
Religion
:
They
pretended
sometime
that
the
Quakers
were
all
Mad-men
,
and
that
they
Imprisoned
them
only
to
keep
them
out
of
the
way
,
and
to
preserve
them
in
peace
;
and
those
who
had
gotten
the
Government
,
would
upon
that
very
Title
claim
the
right
of
judging
what
persons
were
Mad
,
as
they
did
alwayes
of
judging
what
was
Truth
and
what
Error
;
At
other
times
they
pretended
to
punish
the
Quakers
as
Blasphemers
,
and
the
Persecutors
being
the
only
Judges
of
what
was
Blasphemy
under
their
Government
,
they
might
make
what
they
plea●ed
Blasphemy
.
When
they
gr●w
ashamed
of
this
charge
,
t●ey
then
pretended
that
the
Qu●kers
were
concealed
Papists
,
and
that
every
●●e
wh●
spoke
or
uttered
any
thing
in
their
Meetings
(
whether
Man
or
Woman
)
was
a
Jesuit
disguized
,
it
was
clear
that
the
Quakers
suffered
highly
,
and
it
was
as
clear
there
could
not
with
●ny
shew
of
Truth
be
any
thing
charged
against
them
,
but
what
was
matter
of
meer
Religion
.
Now
upon
the
whole
matter
,
what
shall
such
a
person
judge
of
these
matters
,
who
esteem
himself
in
danger
of
being
judged
by
God
,
if
he
shall
make
any
rash
Judgment
?
Shall
we
take
for
a
sufficient
solid
proof
,
the
charge
of
an
exasperated
Enemy
against
an
Enemy
who
hath
provoked
him
,
and
this
in
a
matter
of
so
great
a
concernment
,
a●
to
render
not
a
single
Person
but
a
whole
Party
unworthy
to
live
?
this
were
to
judge
against
the
Rules
of
common
Justice
and
Righteousness
,
as
well
as
to
Sin
against
Charity
;
and
this
way
of
judging
would
render
each
Party
(
the
Quakers
only
excepted
)
to
be
Guilty
,
and
to
give
a
just
Title
to
each
Party
,
where
it
hath
the
possession
of
Power
and
Government
to
put
to
Death
all
of
the
other
parties
:
For
though
we
in
England
should
refuse
to
admit
the
charge
of
the
Papists
here
to
be
a
sufficient
proof
against
the
Protestants
in
so
great
a
matter
;
yet
let
u●
not
deceive
our selves
so
far
,
as
to
suppose
that
in
Popish
Countries
,
the
charge
of
Papists
against
Protestants
would
not
be
taken
to
be
at
the
least
as
valid
,
as
the
charge
of
Protestants
will
be
taken
to
be
against
Papists
here
.
Shall
we
go
another
way
,
and
say
,
that
in
regard
every
Party
takes
it self
to
be
the
only
go●d
and
true
Christian
,
and
in
regard
we
see
every
Party
,
when
in
Power
,
practising
this
thing
,
and
persecuting
the
other
(
when
in
their
power
)
for
matters
of
meer
Religion
,
that
therefore
every
Party
agrees
in
this
?
That
it
is
lawful
for
those
who
are
the
true
Christians
,
to
make
and
execute
penal
Laws
against
such
as
are
erronious
Christians
,
and
to
Inflict
pains
and
penalties
upon
them
for
matters
of
meer
Religion
,
that
is
,
for
Errors
held
by
them
as
Doctrines
of
Religion
:
But
neither
will
this
be
reasonable
or
convenient
,
for
this
will
also
give
Title
to
those
who
have
the
actual
Power
,
and
are
in
the
possession
of
each
respective
Government
in
the
Christian
World
,
to
put
to
death
,
and
destroy
all
within
their
respective
Jurisdictions
,
whom
they
judge
to
be
Erronious
Christians
:
And
this
will
be
also
to
Entitle
the
civil
Magistrate
in
every
Christian
Country
,
to
the
absolute
and
uncontroleable
right
of
judging
between
Truth
and
Error
,
so
as
to
have
no
appeal
from
his
definitive
Judgment
,
and
to
entail
against
common
sence
,
an
Infallibility
in
the
civil
Magistrate
of
every
Country
of
determining
in
matters
of
Faith
and
Religion
;
I
say
against
common
sence
,
for
Christianity
teacheth
us
that
there
can
be
but
one
true
Faith
;
and
if
this
power
of
judging
should
be
allowed
to
the
civil
Magistrate
,
there
would
be
as
many
Faiths
as
there
are
Governments
amongst
Christians
;
that
would
be
true
Faith
in
one
Country
,
and
the
denyal
of
it
punishable
with
death
;
which
in
another
Country
would
be
an
Error
and
a
false
Faith
,
and
the
affirming
of
it
punishable
with
death
,
it
would
also
be
to
justifie
not
only
what
the
Papists
in
England
,
but
what
both
the
Papists
▪
and
Protestants
in
all
other
parts
cast
as
a
charge
upon
our
Nation
,
that
the
only
Rule
of
Faith
in
England
,
is
the
Parliament
of
England
,
that
nothing
is
true
Christian
Doctrine
in
England
,
nor
any
Translation
or
Sence
,
or
Interpretation
of
Scripture
,
a
true
Translation
or
Sence
,
or
Interpretation
of
Scripture
in
England
,
but
what
is
judged
so
to
be
by
the
Parliament
of
England
,
whereas
,
albeit
in
the
Statute
made
2
,
3
Edw
.
6.
C.
1.
Entituled
,
An
Act
for
the
uniformity
of
Service
and
Administration
of
the
Sacraments
throughout
the
Realm
,
it
was
affirmed
by
the
then
Parliament
,
that
the
then
Book
of
Common-prayer
enjoyned
by
that
Statute
to
be
used
was
made
by
the
aid
of
the
Holy
Ghost
,
yet
that
very
Book
was
by
that
very
Parliament
altered
and
amended
as
appears
by
the
Statute
5
Edw
.
6.
C.
1.
And
it
hath
received
several
Reformations
and
Amendments
since
,
and
was
in
and
by
a
Parliament
in
Q.
Maries
days
,
judged
to
be
Heretical
.
As
to
my
own
Judgment
in
this
particular
affair
,
it
leads
me
to
another
way
of
reasoning
and
discoursing
,
I
do
,
and
I
think
I
am
bound
in
Charity
to
believe
that
every
person
and
party
who
prosesseth
Christiantity
,
do
at
least
intend
to
be
what
they
profess
,
and
that
they
do
all
in
their
hearts
fully
give
consent
unto
all
those
common
Doctrines
of
Christianity
,
which
,
as
standing
Principles
of
that
pure
Religion
,
were
never
questioned
or
denyed
by
any
sort
of
Christians
,
such
as
are
those
which
I
have
before
observed
,
of
doing
unto
others
,
as
we
would
have
others
do
unto
us
,
and
of
not
doing
evil
,
that
good
may
come
of
it
,
and
those
others
of
loving
our
Neighbours
as
our selves
,
yea
,
and
of
loving
our
very
Enemies
,
and
doing
good
to
them
who
hate
us
and
use
us
dispightfully
;
all
which
,
when
soberly
considered
,
without
passion
or
human
interests
are
as
expresly
against
all
Persecutions
for
matters
of
meer
Religion
,
and
do
not
only
tie
up
Protestants
from
destroying
of
Protestants
but
also
even
from
Persecuting
of
any
sort
for
any
matters
of
meer
Religion
,
as
those
commands
,
Thou
shalt
do
no
Murther
,
thou
shalt
not
Steal
,
thou
shalt
not
commit
Adultery
,
are
against
and
tye
up
all
Christians
from
shedding
of
blood
Unlawfully
,
and
Malitiously
,
and
against
Rapine
and
Uncleanness
.
And
do
also
in
their
hearts
believe
that
whatever
counsel
or
work
is
of
man
,
will
fall
of
it self
;
and
that
what
is
of
God
will
stand
Maugre
all
the
Persecutions
and
oppositions
of
man
,
and
that
there
is
none
of
them
do
intend
to
fight
against
God
or
would
willingly
be
found
so
doing
.
All
this
being
taken
by
me
in
my
own
thoughts
,
to
be
most
certainly
true
,
when
ever
I
come
to
enquire
,
How
then
can
these
things
be
?
How
can
all
these
parties
(
among
which
there
are
great
numbers
of
good
,
sober
,
Judicious
and
Sincere
persons
)
offend
against
these
common
Principles
of
the
common
faith
of
all
Christians
,
by
making
and
executing
Penal
Laws
for
matters
of
meer
Religion
,
Immediately
adjoyn
to
this
another
Question
,
which
is
,
And
how
can
so
many
persons
,
professing
to
be
Christians
,
take
revenge
by
Blood
,
usurp
the
goods
of
their
Neighbours
,
and
commit
the
Sin
of
Uncleanness
;
yet
all
these
were
done
by
that
great
and
good
King
,
and
Prophet
,
who
was
a
man
after
Gods
own
Heart
.
That
which
to
me
answers
this
latter
Question
,
seems
clearly
to
solve
the
former
,
that
the
Beast
gets
Dominion
over
the
Man
,
the
passions
commit
a
force
upon
reason
;
and
Human
frailty
,
being
too
weak
,
brings
the
best
of
men
sometimes
(
though
but
for
a
time
)
and
careless
men
oftentimes
to
contradict
their
faith
by
their
practice
,
until
by
afflictions
they
gain
understanding
,
and
come
to
repentance
for
the
saving
of
their
Souls
.
This
to
me
seems
so
evident
a
Truth
,
that
until
,
something
more
evident
shall
convince
me
of
my
being
mistaken
in
this
,
I
should
think
it
as
great
a
sin
against
Charity
,
for
me
to
charge
it
as
a
Principle
of
the
Religion
of
any
party
(
professing
to
be
Christians
)
That
Persecution
for
meer
Religion
is
Lawfully
,
because
I
see
it
practised
by
those
who
have
power
amongst
that
party
,
as
to
charge
the
same
party
,
to
hold
it
as
a
Principle
of
their
Religion
,
that
Murther
,
Theft
and
Adultery
are
Lawful
,
because
great
numbers
of
that
party
,
are
two
often
guilty
of
the
practice
of
those
sins
.
If
this
way
of
considering
things
be
not
found
unreasonable
,
but
upon
due
reflection
,
shall
appear
to
be
conformable
to
the
true
Principles
of
Christianity
,
and
the
holy
Rules
and
Doctrines
of
Christ
,
I
hope
those
who
are
Publick
persons
will
forgive
me
when
I
wish
they
would
lay
it
to
their
hearts
,
and
think
well
whether
it
would
not
be
of
use
to
preserve
this
poor
Nation
,
from
the
further
guilt
of
those
additional
Injustices
,
and
Cruelties
which
the
contrary
way
of
rash
Judging
must
involve
and
daily
do
involve
us
in
.
It
is
not
more
calm
Judgment
to
say
,
that
the
Disordinate
passions
of
K.
Henry
the
eighth
hurried
him
into
those
cruelties
which
he
committed
,
then
to
impute
them
to
the
Principles
of
any
Religion
which
he
professed
?
Is
it
not
more
becoming
us
to
say
that
an
over-zealous
passion
of
fears
which
our
first
Reformers
had
in
the
time
of
K.
Edw
.
the
sixth
made
them
apprehend
that
they
could
not
put
Popery
out
of
its
possession
otherwise
then
by
force
,
and
consequently
led
them
unwarily
into
practices
,
which
were
contrary
to
their
true
faith
,
then
to
admit
the
charge
laid
on
them
by
the
then
Persecuted
Papists
,
that
Persecution
for
meer
Religion
,
was
the
first
Protestant
Principle
upon
which
Protestancy
laid
its
first
Foundation
in
England
,
were
it
not
more
ingenious
to
attribute
the
Cruelties
,
which
were
inflicted
in
Queen
Mary's
time
to
the
passion
of
Fear
in
that
Queen
,
and
of
Fear
and
Covetousness
in
her
Bishops
,
that
nothing
could
secure
her
against
New
Rebellions
from
the
Protestants
,
nor
fix
the
Bishops
in
their
re-gained
Possessions
,
but
Examples
of
the
utmost
rigour
,
Then
to
labour
to
fix
those
Barbarous
Cruelties
as
a
Principle
upon
the
Religion
of
that
Queen
.
Is
it
not
more
Charitable
to
assign
all
the
harsh
Laws
made
and
executed
in
the
times
of
Queen
Elizabeth
,
King
James
,
and
in
the
several
succeeding
times
since
by
the
Government
avowedly
Protestant
,
to
the
Fear
,
Ambition
,
Revenge
,
or
other
frail
Passions
,
covered
generally
under
the
specious
Titles
of
Reason
of
State
,
then
to
give
the
World
a
just
Ground
to
charge
those
Cruelties
upon
a
Principle
of
Protestancy
.
This
we
must
do
,
or
(
which
is
as
much
to
our
Dishonour
)
we
must
give
a
just
Ground
to
the
most
civillized
Nations
of
the
World
,
to
charge
those
past
Barbarities
,
exercised
so
long
in
England
,
upon
the
people
of
our
Nation
,
to
the
Cruelties
of
our
English
Natures
:
For
what
other
thing
can
forraign
Nations
impute
it
unto
,
when
they
shall
observe
the
same
persecution
continued
for
near
one
hundred
and
forty
years
,
under
all
the
various
Forms
of
Religion
which
we
have
had
,
each
party
renouncing
the
Cruelties
to
proceed
from
any
Principle
of
the
Religion
owned
by
that
party
,
yet
exercising
in
practice
what
they
profess
to
renounce
to
be
their
Faith
.
But
my
Charity
doth
not
rest
here
,
it
compels
me
to
make
yet
one
step
further
;
and
since
it
is
not
to
the
Dishonour
of
our
Nation
,
I
hope
none
will
be
displeased
with
it
:
As
I
am
verily
perswaded
,
that
all
those
penal
Laws
,
which
have
been
made
in
this
our
Nation
for
the
inflicting
of
Pains
and
Penalties
for
matters
of
meer
Religion
,
have
not
had
their
Original
from
any
Principle
of
any
of
those
Religions
which
have
been
professed
by
any
of
those
Powers
or
Governments
by
which
they
were
made
,
but
ought
to
be
imputed
to
the
Passions
of
those
who
made
and
caused
them
to
be
put
in
execution
:
And
that
a
false
Reason
of
State
gave
those
Passions
leave
to
work
even
against
the
Religion
which
every
Party
persecuting
,
professed
;
so
do
I
most
confidently
believe
,
that
the
true
Principles
of
the
common
Christianity
,
which
every
Party
owned
,
and
true
Reason
of
State
grounded
upon
those
true
and
commonly
owned
Principles
,
restrained
all
and
every
the
respective
partie●
by
whom
those
Laws
were
made
,
from
all
intentions
of
having
all
or
any
of
those
Laws
rigidly
executed
;
so
that
those
who
had
from
time
to
time
,
and
who
still
have
the
executive
and
interpretative
Power
of
those
Laws
vested
in
them
,
have
alwayes
understood
,
and
do
still
continue
to
understand
those
Laws
not
to
have
been
intended
by
the
Legislative
Power
to
be
strictly
and
rigidly
or
constantly
executed
;
my
Reason
is
,
that
had
this
been
otherwise
,
All
of
All
parties
,
except
One
,
who
at
some
time
had
been
in
power
,
must
have
been
ere
this
totally
butchered
or
destroyed
,
and
our
poor
Country
so
far
depopulated
as
to
have
become
a
prey
to
some
of
our
potent
Neighbours
.
I
know
some
there
are
who
have
imputed
the
remiss
execution
of
these
unkind
Laws
to
the
generous
good
nature
which
is
found
in
the
generality
of
our
Nation
,
which
abhors
cruelty
,
and
hath
alwayes
a
compassion
for
those
who
are
under
Persecution
;
and
which
well
appears
to
any
who
reflect
upon
the
tenderness
of
our
Courts
of
Justice
,
and
of
the
generality
both
of
our
Magistrates
,
and
our
Juries
in
all
the
Countries
of
England
,
and
how
they
have
comported
themselves
under
the
several
circomstances
of
past
times
when
they
have
been
called
upon
and
provoked
,
yea
threatned
,
and
endeavoured
to
have
been
forced
into
a
Spirit
of
Persecuting
.
Others
there
are
who
have
taken
the
great
unwillingness
in
all
sorts
of
persons
to
be
active
in
the
execution
of
these
Laws
to
proceed
from
the
innate
zeal
that
is
in
every
English
man
to
preserve
the
liberties
and
properties
of
their
fellow
Subjects
,
as
well
as
their
own
;
and
that
they
have
observed
,
that
liberty
and
property
were
never
any
way
so
much
entrencht
upon
violated
and
destroyed
,
as
by
these
cruel
Laws
of
Persecution
for
meer
Religion
;
so
that
every
man
considering
when
he
sees
his
Neighbour
(
though
differing
in
Judgment
from
himself
)
Persecuted
and
destroyed
for
what
ought
to
be
called
,
rather
his
mistake
then
his
fault
(
for
no
man
can
believe
against
this
Judgment
,
or
take
an
Oath
against
his
Conscience
without
sin
)
that
though
this
be
his
Neighbours
turn
this
year
,
it
may
be
his
own
turn
the
next
year
;
&
no
mans
Life
,
Liberty
or
Property
can
be
secure
in
case
of
such
Laws
executed
,
but
only
such
men
who
have
a
Conscience
fitted
for
all
changes
of
Government
,
and
for
every
Religion
that
is
uppermost
,
and
who
for
that
reason
are
as
unfit
to
be
trusted
by
their
Neighbours
as
by
the
Government
.
But
though
I
take
it
to
be
very
true
that
this
natural
inclination
to
mercy
and
pity
,
and
this
real
zeal
which
all
men
have
for
the
preserving
of
liberty
,
and
property
may
have
been
great
helps
to
keep
off
or
mitigate
the
severe
Execution
of
these
Laws
of
Persecution
for
meer
Religion
;
yet
when
I
well
consider
the
great
Power
,
and
influence●
which
the
supreme
Authority
alwayes
hath
upon
the
Subjects
;
and
particularly
upon
all
the
Magistrates
in
general
,
who
are
alwayes
persons
nominated
and
appointed
by
the
Suprem
Authority
;
and
must
betherefore
supposed
to
be
such
as
in
whom
the
Supreme
Authority
alwayes
confides
,
as
to
the
due
Execution
of
what
the
Supreme
Authority
intends
to
have
Executed
;
I
think
it
will
Naturally
follow
,
that
a
forbearance
of
the
rigid
Execution
of
these
Laws
,
ought
to
be
chiefly
imputed
to
the
Religion
and
true
Christian
policy
of
the
Supream
Authority
;
and
we
ought
to
believe
,
that
though
a
false
Reason
of
State
did
sometimes
permit
human
frailty
,
to
make
such
Laws
as
were
contradictory
to
the
true
Laws
and
Principles
of
that
very
Religion
which
those
persons
professed
,
by
whom
those
Laws
were
made
;
yet
true
Religion
,
and
true
reason
of
state
alwayes
kept
those
persons
from
intending
to
have
those
Laws
rigidly
and
severely
Executed
:
I
will
confirm
this
by
one
single
Instance
of
the
highest
Nature
,
and
that
not
in
the
best
of
times
.
The
last
Popish
Priest
that
was
put
to
death
in
England
for
being
a
Priest
of
the
Romish
Church
,
was
put
to
death
in
the
time
of
Cromwell
;
I
suppose
,
we
are
not
to
doubt
of
the
passionate
heat
which
inflamed
those
who
were
then
in
Authority
against
the
Papists
and
Popery
;
they
looked
on
the
Papists
as
mortal
Enemies
to
their
Government
,
and
as
fast
Friends
,
and
devoted
Servants
to
the
Crown
and
Royal
Family
:
Notwithstanding
which
,
when
the
said
Priest
came
upon
his
Tryal
at
the
Sessions-house
in
the
Old
Baily
in
London
,
and
upon
his
Arraignment
,
pleaded
that
he
was
not
Guilty
of
Treason
,
but
acknowledged
himself
to
be
a
Priest
of
the
Roman
Church
;
It
clearly
appeared
that
those
who
were
his
Judges
,
did
their
utmost
to
preserve
his
Life
,
and
to
prevent
the
Execution
against
him
of
those
Laws
upon
which
he
stood
Indicted
:
For
they
did
for
many
hours
suspend
the
recording
of
his
Confession
,
making
it
their
endeavour
to
prevail
with
him
to
plead
not
Guilty
to
the
Indictment
;
they
pressed
him
to
this
in
the
publick
Court
,
assuring
him
,
that
i●
he
would
so
plead
,
his
Life
should
be
safe
;
and
that
they
had
no
evidence
which
could
prove
him
to
be
a
Priest
.
And
when
the
Old
Man
(
Aged
about
seventy
two
Years
)
would
not
be
drawn
to
deny
himself
to
be
a
Priest
;
(
taking
it
to
be
a
dying
of
his
Religion
)
so
that
the
Court
was
compelled
to
give
Judgment
against
him
;
The
Magistrate
who
gave
t●●
Sentence
,
was
so
drowned
in
Tears
upon
that
sad
occasion
,
that
it
was
long
before
he
could
pronounce
the
Sentance
,
which
the
Law
compelled
him
(
as
he
professed
)
to
give
.
Now
I
ask
,
can
it
be
presumed
that
in
those
severe
times
against
Popery
,
those
who
then
sate
upon
the
Seat
of
Justice
,
would
,
or
durst
have
proceeded
t●us
in
a
publick
Court
,
and
made
it
their
business
so
openly
,
so
avowedly
to
have
saved
the
Life
of
a
Priest
of
that
party
,
if
they
had
not
well
considered
that
the
makers
of
those
Laws
,
and
even
Cromwell
,
who
had
then
taken
upon
him
the
Government
of
these
Nations
,
did
not
in
Truth
intend
a
rigid
and
severe
Execution
of
those
Laws
,
which
were
for
Inflicting
Pains
and
Penalties
for
matters
of
meer
Religion
?
But
I
think
,
I
need
give
no
further
Instances
for
the
proof
of
this
my
Opinion
:
whosoever
shall
reflect
upon
the
present
genius
of
our
whole
Nation
,
and
consider
in
what
detestation
all
men
have
the
Execution
of
persecuting
Laws
for
matters
of
meer
Religion
;
How
publickly
Informers
are
abhorred
and
discountenanced
,
when
they
labour
to
persecute
any
upon
any
such
Law
,
will
easily
see
that
the
whole
Nation
in
general
is
Convinced
,
that
those
Laws
were
never
any
of
them
made
,
with
intention
to
have
them
rigidly
Executed
.
I
have
been
told
,
(
and
it
seems
to
be
grounded
upon
Reason
)
that
it
is
a
principle
of
our
Laws
,
That
even
an
Act
of
Parliament
,
which
is
against
the
Law
of
God
,
or
against
Reason
,
is
void
in
it self
;
if
this
be
true
(
as
me
thinks
it
ought
to
be
)
I
think
we
are
very
near
the
time
,
wherein
all
our
present
Laws
of
this
Nature
,
by
which
any
are
subject
to
be
in
any
measure
persecuted
for
matters
of
meer
Religion
,
will
be
repealed
by
the
general
Voice
of
the
whole
Nation
,
and
that
when
the
particular
Persons
,
of
which
the
great
Body
of
this
Nation
is
composed
,
shall
have
considered
something
more
deliberately
then
their
Passions
have
yet
permitted
all
to
do
,
that
every
Law
of
this
nature
is
against
the
Liberty
and
Property
of
the
Subjects
of
England
;
unjust
and
cruel
,
in
punishing
men
for
not
proceeding
against
their
Consciences
;
expresly
against
the
very
Principles
and
Rules
of
the
Gospel
of
Christ
,
and
the
principles
of
that
true
Religion
which
every
one
of
us
pretends
to
own
;
destructive
to
the
Trade
and
well
being
of
our
Nation
,
by
oppressing
and
driving
away
the
most
industrous
Working
Hands
of
our
Nation
,
and
depopulating
,
and
thereby
impoverish
our
Country
,
which
is
capable
of
imploying
ten
times
the
number
of
people
which
we
now
have
;
contradictory
to
the
Rule
of
Justice
,
grounded
upon
common
Reason
,
as
well
as
Religion
,
which
requires
,
That
no
man
should
do
unto
another
,
what
he
would
not
have
done
unto
himself
,
and
consequently
void
in
it self
by
the
Rule
of
the
Laws
of
our
own
Country
:
There
will
not
be
found
a
Magistrate
,
nay
,
a
common
Subject
in
England
,
who
will
not
as
positively
renounce
the
putting
in
execution
,
or
being
accessary
to
the
executing
of
any
Law
of
this
Nature
,
as
he
will
renounce
the
becoming
guilty
of
those
detestable
Sins
of
Murder
or
Theft
.
But
until
men
are
a
little
further
convinced
of
these
Truths
,
you
(
Sr.
)
ought
not
to
be
angry
with
,
but
rather
pity
those
Magistrates
from
whose
Hands
you
have
lately
suffered
for
a
Matter
meerly
of
Religion
:
Peradventure
they
did
not
fully
consider
,
that
the
Matter
with
which
you
were
charged
,
was
a
Matter
of
meer
Religion
,
but
took
the
Meeting
in
an
Assembly
meerly
for
the
Worship
of
God
,
to
be
an
Unlawful
Assembly
,
because
prohibited
by
a
present
Law
,
as
the
poor
Magistrates
in
the
Apostles
times
took
their
Meetings
in
their
Assemblies
meerly
for
the
Worship
of
God
,
to
be
Unlawful
Assemblies
,
&
Breaches
of
the
Peace
,
because
they
were
prohibited
by
their
Laws
:
Or
perhaps
their
Fear
that
they
should
themselves
be
subject
to
a
Forfeiture
,
in
case
they
should
have
denyed
their
Warrant
to
the
Informer
,
made
them
fall
under
that
Human
Frailty
for
the
securing
of
themselves
.
However
it
was
,
I
suppose
you
have
no
just
Ground
to
believe
the
thing
to
be
any
Effect
of
Malice
against
you
or
your
Friends
;
and
if
it
be
not
,
then
the
same
Magistrates
,
now
their
Fear
is
over
,
may
yet
be
instrumental
to
do
you
and
themselves
Right
.
It
is
Odds
but
upon
a
strict
Reflection
upon
what
the
Informer
hath
sworn
,
the
Devil
may
have
prevailed
with
him
to
swear
something
which
may
be
proved
untrue
;
for
Informers
are
not
squeemish
in
swearing
for
their
own
profit
,
as
it
daily
appears
in
Westminster-Hall
and
London
,
and
one
point
of
Po●jury
proved
will
invalidate
all
his
Testimony
,
and
reverse
all
that
is
done
:
At
which
I
am
very
confident
no
man
(
besides
the
Informer
)
will
be
displeased
.
And
this
is
in
plain
Truth
the
great
Reason
why
your
Friends
here
desire
to
know
all
the
Circumstances
of
your
Case
;
the
certifying
of
which
may
be
an
Advantage
to
your self
and
your
Friends
there
,
and
will
be
particularly
very
Welcome
unto
Sr.
Your
Old
True
Friend
,
A.
N.