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 , in which a mans Body can be laid : yet few would desire to pacify the humours of their Body at that rate . An Implicite 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 choose 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 : and yet that cannot so much as be called a Parliament , unless it be upon a Commonwealth Principle , that the Soveraign Power is radically in the People : for its being chosen without the Kings 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 Commonwealth Party , this is not only called a Parliament , but is proposed as a Pattern to all others , from the beginning to Page 19.

II . But since this Author will send us back to that time , & since he takes it so ill that the Memory of the late King should be forgotten . Let us examin that Transaction a little , and then we shall see whether 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 setled 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 Kings 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 disguised 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 ( or 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 Nonconformists , 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 King's 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 King's 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 R●ligion 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 , and 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 Pape 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 tho 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 thro 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 Iesuites Sermon , on the 30. of Ianuary 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 R. Catholick Princes , ever since the Reformation . The first was , the Edict of Passaw in Germany , procured chiefly by Ferdinands 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 Iesuites 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 tho 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 King Philip the Second , yet the violence with which the House of Grats was possessed , overturned all that : so that the breaking of the Pacificatory Edicts was begun in Rodolph's time , and was so far carried on in Mathias'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 it was observed : the Promises made by the Queen Regent of Scotland , were observed with the same Fidelity : after these came the Pacificatory Edicts in France , which were scarce made when the Triumvirate 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 say 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 setled 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 : & who has done nothing in the whole Tragedy that he has acted , but what is exactly conform to the Doctrine & 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 Author's Sincerity , who page 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 Country 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 easy 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 authorised 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 determin 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 Ro . 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 Ro . 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 tho setled into a Magna Charta 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 this dispute ; since by an Offer of Repealing the Penal Lawes , res●rving 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 forcing people to change their Religion , as the way of D●agoons . I will not examin 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 tho 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 has been of late both practised and authorised among us , would procure a full Settlement , even this could be obtained : tho 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 ruin 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 Ro . Catholicks may have a Share in Military Employments , but the difference between our Case and theirs is clear : since some Ro . Catholick Officers , where the Government is wholly in the Hands of 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 us , that the King 's dispensing power has already put an end to the dispute : and that therefore it is a seeming sort of perjury , see pag . 48. to keep the Justices of peace still under an Oath of executing those Lawes , which they must consider no more . Some Presidents are brought from former times , p. 22 , 23 , 24. of our Kings using the dispencing power in Edward the 3d , Richard the 2d , Henry the 7th , Henry the 8th , Edward the 6th , and Q. Elisabeth's time . It is very true , that the Lawes have been of late broke through among 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 Magdalen Colledg 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 on what they do , our Authors officiousness in suggesting this to them may prove to be no acceptable piece of service . I will not examin all his Presidents : we are to be Governed by Law , and not by some of the excesses of Government : nor is the Latter end of Edward the Third a time to be much imitated : and of all the parts of the English History Richard the 2ds reign should be the least mentioned : since those excesses of his produced so Tragical a Conclusion as the loss of his Crown and Life . Henry the 6ths feeble and imbroiled Reign will scarce support an Argument ; and if there were some excesses in Henry the 8ths time , which is ordinary in all great Revolutions , he got all these to be either Warranted , or afterwards confirmed in Parliament . And Q. Elisabeths power in Ecclesiastical matters was founded on a special Act of Parliament , which was in a great measure repealed in the year 1641. and that Repeal was again ratified by another Act in the late Kings time . We are often told , of the late King's Repealing the Act concerning the sise of Carts and Wagons : but all Lawyers know , that some Laws are understood to be Abrogated without a speciall Repeal , when some Visible Inconvenience enforces it : such as appeared in that mistaken Act concerning Wagons : 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 questioned this : a man would not be offended if another pulled a flower in his garden , that yet would take it ill if he broke his hedge : and in Holland , to which our Authors pen leads him often , when a river changes its course , any man may break the Dike that was made to resist it , yet that will be no warrant to go , and break the Dike that resists the current of the same River : so if a dispencing power when applyed to smaller offences , has been passed over , as 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 superceded , because twelve men in Scarlet have been hired 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 , whereas the other is a warrant to commit crimes : in short , the one is a power to save men , and the other is a power to destroy the Government . But tho they swagger it out now with the Dispensing power , yet rode caper vitem may come to be again in season : and a time may come , in which the whole party will have reason to wish that some hare-brained Jesuites had never been born , who will rather expose them not only to the Resentments , but even to the Justice of another season , in which as little regard will be had to the dispencing power , as they have to the Laws at present ; then accept of reasonable propositions .

VII . Our Author's kindness to the States of Holland , is very particular , and returns often upon him ; and it is no wonder that a State setled upon two such hinges , as the Protestant Religion and Publick Liberty , should be no small eyesore , to those who intend to destroy both . So that the Slackning the Laws concerning Religion , and the Invading that State , seem to be Terms that must alwayes go together . In the first War began the first Slackning of them And after the Triple Alliance had laid the Dutch asleep , when the second War was resolved on , which began with that Heroical Attempt on the Smirna Fleet ( for our Author will not have the late Kings Actions to be forgotten ) at the same time the famous Declaration 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 ventured in a Book licenced by My Lord President of the Council , to call their Constitution , Page 68. A Revolt that they made from their Lawful Frince , and to raise his stile to a more sublime strain , he says P. 66. that their Commonwealth is only the result of an absolute Rebellion , Revolt and Defection from their Trince , and that the Lawes that they have made , were to prevent any Casual return to their natural Allegeance . And speaking of their Obligation , to protect a Naturalised 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 Soveraigns Faith to protect the Subject is a superfluous thing ; a Faith to Hereticks is another superfluous thing : so that two Suiperfluities , one upon another , must be all that we are to trust to . But I must take notice of the variety of Methods , that these Gentlemen use in their Writings . Here in England , we are always up braided with the Revolt of the Dutch , as a scandalous Imputation on the Protestant Religion : and yet in a late Paper , entitled , an Answer to Pensioner Fagel's Letter , the Services that the Roman Catholicks did , in the beginning of that Commonwealth , are highly extolled as signal and meritorious : upon which the Writer makes great Complaints , that the Pacification of Gaunt , and the Union at Utrecht , by which the free Exercise of their Religion was to be continued to them , was not observed in most of the Provinces : But if he had taken pains to examin the History of the States ; he would have found , that soon after the Union made at Utrecht , the Treaty at Collen was set on foot , between the King of Spain and the States , by the Emperors Mediation , in which the Spaniards studied to divide the Ro . Catholicks of these 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 Malcontents was formed upon it : and these did quickly Capitulate in the Walloon Provinces , and after that not only Brabant and Flanders Capitulated , but Reenenburgh that was Governour of Groening , declared for the King of Spain , and by some Places that he took both in Friseland and Over-Issel , he put these Provinces under Contribution : Not long after that both Deventer 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 R. 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 , changed so the state of affairs , that no wonder it this produced a change likewise with Relation to that Religion , since it appeared that these Revolts were carried on , and justified upon the Principles of that Church : and the general hatred under which these Revolts brought the Ro . 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 those Provinces , the Ro . Catholicks continued still in the Countrey : and tho the ill Inclination that they shewed , made it necessary for the Publick Safety , to put them out of the Government , yet they have still enjoyed the common Rights of the Countrey , 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 is no small step to it , to possess all the World with odious Impressions of the Dutch , as a Rebellious and perfidious State : and if it were possible , they would even make their own Ro : Catholick Subjects , Fancy that they are persecuted by them : but tho men may be brought to believe Transubstantiation , in spite of the Evidence of Sense to the contrary ; yet those that feel themselves at ease , will hardly be brought to think that they are persecuted , because 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 Supports , as his Predecessours acknowledged them a Free State almost an Age ago . And it being confessed by the Historians of all sides , that there was an express proviso , in the Constitution of their Government , That if their Prince broke such and such Limits , they were no more bound to obey him , but might resist him ; and it being no le s certain , that King Philip the Second authorised the Duke of Alva to seise 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 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 upon their Smirna Fleet was , he may employ his Eloquence in setting it out : and if notwithstanding all the Failures that they have felt from others , they have still maintained the Publick Faith , our Author's Rhetorick will hardly blemish them . The Peace of Nimmegen 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 late 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 a very ill grace , reproach the Dutch for these unhappy steps to which our Conduct drove them .

VIII . If a strain of pert boldness runs thro this whole Pamphlet , it appears no where more Eminently , than in the Reflections the Author makes on Mr. Fagel's Letter : He calls it , Page 62 , a pretended Piece , and a Presumption not to be soon pardoned , in prefixing to a surreptitious and unauthorised Pamphlet the reverend name of the Princess of Orange : which in another place ( Page 72. ) he had reason to imagin , 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 Pensioner 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. Stewarts Letter , drew the Pensioner's Answer from him , so this Paper licensed as it is , will now draw from him a particular recital of the whole Progress of this Matter . Mr. Albeville knows , that the Princess explained herself so fully to him in the Moneth 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. Stewart by many repeated Letters pressed his Friend to renew his Importunities to the Pensioner for an Answer ; He having also said in his Letters , that he writ by the King's 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 to be put in English , that so their Highnesses might see that Translation of his Letter , which was to be offered to His Majesty : and they having approved of it , he 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 Falsehood of which they themselves are well assured : and therefore I may well conclude that My Lord Presidents Licence was granted by him , with that carelessness 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 , page 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 these Characters shew it comes from one that has neither a narrowness of Soul , nor a fourness of Spirit . In short , she proposes nothing in it , but to preserye that Religion , which She believes the true one : and that being secured , She is willing that all others enjoy all the Liberties of Subjects , and the Freedoms 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 than his own , Page 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 this seeming Relation . And She seems still , imports that tho this apparent 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 sense 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 , nor 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 matters 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 , page 53 thinks , it is an Indecent forecast to be always erecting such Sch●ams 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 Traitors in England a few years ago ; in which the next Heir , tho 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 Bedchamber or in his Walks ; when the whole Dependance was on the Successor : so if we by turns look a little at the Successor , those who did this 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 conclude , that if the Prince ordered it , the Princess had likewise her Share in it . I find but one glance at the Prince in the whole Book , Page 52. when the Author is pleasing himself with the hopes of Protection from the Royal Heir out of a sense of Filial Duty : He concludes , Especially when so nearly allied to the very Bosom of a Prince whose way of worship neither is the same with the National here , and in whose Countries all Religions have been ever 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 lotty . But the matter of this Period is more remarkable : it 〈◇〉 as 〈◇〉 the Prince's way of Worship was ●o different from ours : tho we hear that he goes frequently with the ●rincess 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 authorised in Holland : and as for that , that all Religions have been ever alike tolerated there , it is another of our Authors flights . I do not hear that t ere are either Bonzis or Bramans in Holland , or that the Mahometans have their Mosques there : And sure his Friends the Rom. Catholicks will tell him , that all Religions are not alike tolerated there . Thus I have followed him 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 among 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 him 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 effect of the Abolition of the Tests : after all that we see and hear , it is too great an Affront to Mankind to offer to make it out . A mans understanding may really mislead him so far as to make him change his Religion , he remaining still an honest Man : but no man can pretend to be thought an honest Man , that betrays the Legal , and now the only Visible Defences of that Religion which he professes . The taking away the Test for publick Employments , is to set up an Office at F. Peters's for all Pretenders : and perhaps a Pretender will not be so much as received , till he has first abjured : so that every Vacancy will probably make five or six Proselites : and those Protestants who are already in Employments , will feel their ground quickly sail 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 if 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 to us , by this Author : that the Next Heir seems still to be so nearly related to this State .